..'^... 


^  \^   ^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


<^  4: 


V  n^^ 


J 


z 


1.0    !f 


I.I 


1^12^8     |2.5 

1.8 


1.25  1    1.4       1.6 

M 

6"     

► 

V] 


vl 


^l 


'/ 


/A 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


? 


.^ 


V^^^ 


2i 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  canadien  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/IMotes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 


D 


n 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommag^e 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^e  et/ou  peiliculde 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout6es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  film^es. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl6mentaires: 


L'institut  a  microfilmd  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6x6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m6thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

□    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

I      I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


The 
to  th 


v/ 


D 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 


Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pellicul6es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachetdes  ou  piqu^es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachdes 


The 
poss 
of  th 
filmi 


Orig 
begi 
the  I 
sion 
othe 
first 
sion 
or  ill 


Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Quality  indgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  matdriel  suppl^mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  filmdes  d  nouveau  de  fapon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


The 
shall 
TINI 
whi( 

Map 
diffe 
entii 
begi 
right 
requ 
metl 


10X 

14X 

18X 

I"""  — 

22X 

26X 

30X 

V 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

ire 

idtails 
es  du 
modifier 
er  une 
Filmage 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanlcs 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaire  filmd  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6X6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  l'exemplaire  filmd,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


tes 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimde  sont  film^s  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END  "). 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  syrnbole  ^-^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmds  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichd,  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


errata 
i  to 


e  pelure, 
;on  d 


n 


1 

2 

3 

32X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

I      I 


Cat^TE     DE     Li 


A 


DANIELS    AND    SMITH. 

New  JV)//-,  ('<.  V.  I'itnam;   liosion.  Lirri,i:  am>  F.kown:   Nrw  Orlrnns.  15.  M. 
NoKM.w;  L<ini/i)ii,  Sous  Cuai'man;  /V?/7.v,  (Iaiji^nam  and  (.'o. 

1850. 


Carte    de    la  Loiisiank    f/i    du 

1,       ^  -^'-        ^ 


mBmHTr"  ^Ip^HJI.iifT"  ^BiliJlllH    ' 


(   ln|.|'. 


C\hli 


xl.^■:Kv-■.  "    -^ \ -^    '■■  '  %""^' '■■■ 


"•"1 


F.     F/r     1)1       COURS     UU    MISSISSIPI 


.,1/1      ,,//.<     ,,,    .    i(     f,     ,    f(-'ttr  ,/(//•    vruiii         ijf  1  iiic    <f(    f>    inftfi //t/i     .  V      <fi'    •  /<ttnt( 
^i..i  \\j.n.ii;s-i'\  3^    u..|.,.-vr"'*ryr7  I.  cy     ¥?!  rlfuYli  r  r  ^^^^-k^' '  4..,,.- 


0  III   Ili'N 

II    Mil  II  I     wv 


i  ;.:0 


../(,  '..i\~M\  ■      ^,"  -v  ■ 

"rtf-V'K""">  ' -v 


I  \v  'f'.-J^A^-  --0^  I    Htlx-IK  (lilt  <     illl 

^'"i.   y    y.  #Ji^     II  I 


P*B««>>nw 


-^ 


vISSlSSlPI 


r 


f 


> 


I  f 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS 


or 


LOUISIANA, 

KMUIiAClNl.  TKANSl.ATlO.N^nV 

MANY    UAllK    AM>    V  A  L  U  A  IM,  E    D0,M:MKNTS 

RKI.ATINU  TO  illK 

NATIKAL,  CIVIL  AND  POLITICAL 

HISTORY  OF   THAT   STATE. 

coMriLKD  WITH 

HISTORICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTES, 

AM)  AS 

INTRODUCTION, 


B.   F.   FRENCH 


Mem>,^rnf,h.  ^-ou,  s,n,,n     y>or,rS^'^^jJ  '^    ^^^^    ll,s,or,n,l  .Sneer..     • 


PART  II. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
DANIELS    AND    SMITH. 

V       K„,/.  C,    V  PrrN  sm  ;  ««'">".  L'TTI-'^  am-  Brown  ;   AV,.  Or/r,n,s.  B.  M- 

1850. 


y  t/ 


.-*     Ill—      II..  mi 


liSf  i:iiiii>  iioofinling  In  tlir  Act  of  Con^ri'ss.  in  tlir  ytiu  1850,  liy 
III  IliP  Clerk's  Omcr  dl  llic  nislrict  Conn  n{  the  Knslprii  DiHtriot  of  PennKylvniiia. 


rillLAIIELPIIIA: 
PRINTED  nV  T.  K.  k  P.  U.  COLLINS. 


\ 


] 


AIF,MHnns  (Jf  Tin;  LOIISIANA  IIISTOIMCAI.  SOCIKTV 


THIS  VOLl'ME 


IS  m.siMHTni.r.v  di-.dicati'.d 


BT 


Hi'.NjAMiN  r   rm-Nrii 


] 


V  11 1]  V  A  C  E . 


I 


In  |ir(|iariii;.'  litis  vuliiiiii'  fur  tin'  iir('>s,  if  li:is  ln'cn  my  (ilpjcct  (o 
rli'ar  ii|)  as  iniii  li  :is  pussiMc,  ]i\  ilic  inililicatinii  of  itii|iurt:iiit  narra- 
tive-, all  ilniiliis  n-iirciiii'j;  tiic  daiiii  i>\'  Spain  tn  tlir  lir>t  iliscnvrry, 
ami  lit'  I'Vaiicc  tu  the  lir.st  .sctdciiniii  ami  ('.\|pliiratiiiii  nf  tlw  .Mi>>isi. 
hilipi  Iiivi  r.  Ill  llic  sixtconlli  criitiiry,  tin-  iiauif  nf  {''Iniida  was  jL-'ivcii 
(ii  all  that  (•(iiiiitiy  lyiii,!,' Sdiitli  uf  N'imiiiia,  and  rxtiinliii;:  wc-twanl  to 
tlif  S)iai)i>li  ]i(i.-s(s>in!is  in  Mixici',  im-liuliii;.',  nf  ('(iur.-e,  tlic  prixnt 
Stato  (if  Liiuisiana.  it  was  inlialpiti-d  ]iy  scvoral  jkiwitI'iiI  tri!»  s  dI' 
warlil;!'  Indians,  wlm  sulisiM|u<'ntly  r('si>fc'd  i'V(  ry  attciiiipt  of  KiiL;laml, 
l*'ram-e  anil  Spain,  to  siilpjiijiatc  tliini.  In  lol'J,  I'lPiici'  dc  Lrnii,  a 
I'Dinpaniiin  ut'  Cnhiinlms,  sailed  fur  rinrida,  and  (  H'fctt'il  a  lamliii!^ 
near  the  jn'i'sriit  luwn  uf  St,  AniiUstiin'.  Ilo  was  attacked  I'V  tlio 
nulives,  and  driven  hack  with  seviTe  loss  to  liis  ships,  imntidly 
wonndi'd.  He  retnrncil  with  the  wreck  of  his  expedition  to  Culia, 
where  he  shortly  afterwards  dii  d. 

Ill  Ifi^O,  Vas(|iit  •/.  do  Aylloii  lltted  out,  anotlun' expedition  to  take 
possession  of  Florida,  liut  Ik?  was  ,'-lain  Iiy  the  Indians,  and  his  fleet 
returned  to  Cnha,  In  1 ')"JS,  I'aiiifilii  de  Narvaez  sailed  fmni  Cuha 
with  four  ;dii])s  and  a  stroiiir  military  force  to  eonipier  the  country. 
lie  arrived  in  the  IJay  of  K.-^piritu  Santo  (Tani)Ki  l>ay),  on  the  I'Jtli 
of  A|iril,  where  he  landed  his  army.  After  iiciiefratinjr  the  country 
some  hundreds  of  miles,  and  suflerin^  severe  loss  and  iiuredihle  hard- 
ships, ho  returned  to  tin*  sea-eoast,  and  eml'arked  the  miserahle 
remnant  of  his  army  in  live  frail  vessels  for  Cuha.  |)in'in;f  his  voya;,'e 
a  .severe  storm  arose,  in  which  he  sufVered  shipwreck,  and  only  a  por- 
tion of  his  army  ultimately  reached  Mexico  in  l')o7. 

In  ir)o!>,  Hernando  de  Soto,  the  eomjiaiiion  of  Ti/.arro  in  the  eon- 
quest  of  I'eru,  ohtained  permission  of  Charles  the  l-'il'th  to  coni|U(T 
the  country,  and  the  title  of  irovcrnor  and  captain-iieiieral  was  con- 
ferred u]ion  him.  Afti'r  nearly  fourteen  months  spent  in  preparation, 
lie  .set  sail  from  Spain  on  the  (1th  of  A]iril,  l-'iliS,  and  on  the  .'Jlst 
31ay,  l.');]",),  he  arrived  in  the  hay  of  Iv-^piritu  Santo,  where  he  landed 
lii.s  army.  Jle  penetrated  the  interior  of  the  country,  and  passed  down 
the  valli'y  of  the  Coosa  liiver.      He  marched  from  tluiice  to  Alah.inia 


river,  wliere    he  fought   a 


ureat    nattle   with    the 


Indian.-' 


I 


ea\  Miii: 


Maini/o,  he  marched  northward  and  westward,  and  spent  the  second 
winter  in  !Mississip[ii,  where  he  lost  a  jiart  of  his  army  in  a  hat  tie 
with  the  Chi(d<asaws.  Thence  he  hent  his  eour.se  te  the  .MI->i>sippi 
liiver,  which  he  crossed  in  the  latituile  of  the  Chickasaw  IJluffs,  and 


VI 


rREFACE. 


) 


ppont  the  next  winter  in  the  niountiiiiiourf  region  of  Arkansas.  In  the 
fdllowing  spring  ho  returned  to  th(;  Mississippi  Kiver,  where  he  died. 
The  iieeount  of  tliis  fanum^  expedition  was  written  by  Garcilaso  de  la 
Vega,  and  a  gentleman  of  Elvas,  and  jmldi.^hed  in  Spain  some  years  after- 
wards. "It  may  be  doubted,"  says  Mr.  Sparks,  "  whether  eitlier  of  these 
works  can  bo  trusted  as  affording  genuine  historical  materials.  They 
Iiave  been  cited  by  r(^spoetablc  writer.s  in  default  of  other  authorities; 
but  they  border  so  closely  upon  the  regions  of  romance  that  they  may 
cas  justly  be  ranked  in  this  class  of  compositions  as  in  that  of  history. 
This  is  generally  conceded  in  regard  to  (jarcilaso  de  la  Vega,  but  his 
predecessor,  the  gentleman  of  Elvas,  is  thought  to  have  higher  claims." 
Since  the  above  was  written  by  Mr.  Sparks,  another  account  of  this 
oxp';dition  into  I'Uorida  and  Louisiana  has  been  found  in  manuscript, 
in  Spain,  written  by  Jiuis  Hernandez  de  Jiiedma  {factciwde  m  Mdjcstc), 
and  presented  by  him  to  the  king  in  1544,  which  seems  to  have  fur- 
nisheil  the  materials  for  these  histories,  and  estal)lishes  beyond  a  doubt 
the  claim  of  Spain  to  the  discovery  of  the  .Mississippi  Kiver,  and  the 
extensive  country  lying  on  both  sides  of  it.  ]t  is  written  in  a  plain 
and  unpreteiuling  style,  and  gives  apparently  a  faithful  account  of 
the  countries  traversed  by  J)o  Soto — the  manners  and  customs  of  the 
Indians — their  towns  and  villages — the  mountains,  rivers,  and  val- 
leys— the  currents,  islands,  and  other  physical  features  of  the  reat 
3Iississippi  valley  and  river;  and  finally  the  preparation  and  dep;'  ture 
of  his  successor  Jjuis  de  IMoscoso,  frouj  the  mouth  of  the  Arka  "as, 
until  his  arrival  in  the  river  of  Panuco  in  1543.  A  translation  of  is 
rare  and  curious  manuscript,  tvjgether  with  an  autograph  letter  of  e 
Adelantado  de  Soto  is  now  published  for  the  first  time  in  this  volui 
After  the  death  of  Hernando  de  Soto,  more  than  a  century  elap 
before  any  further  attemjjt  was  made  to  explore  the  Mississii)pi. 
1073,  M.  Till  tn,  the  French  governor  of  Canada,  look  measure 
secure  the  dominion  of  Trance  over  all  the  countries  Iving  south 


west  of  the  Canadian   lakes;   and,  anxious  to  discover  the  sou. 


d 
p 
to 
A 

s. 


<;ourse,  and  directiou  of  tiie  great  river  which  had  been  mentioned  iu 
the  French  missiotiarit's  by  the  Indians  of  the  west,  to  flow  towards 
the  south,  he  sent  ^lanpiette  and  .Joliet  to  explore  it  to  the  sea. 
They  endjarked  in  3Iay,  and  proceeded  dow)i  the  river  as  far  as  the 
Arkansas,  from  whence  tliey  retr,rned  to  Canada,  and  published  an 
account  of  their  voyage  in  the  French  language  seveiul  years  after. 
IJut  it  was  left  for  the  greatest  traveler  of  liis  age,  the  Sieur  Kobert 
Cavalier  de  la  Salle,  to  liuisli  what  the}'  liad  begun.  He  set  out  from 
Canada  in  1()S2,  and  reached  its  mouths  on  the  0th  of  April,  and 
took  possession  of  the  country  in  the  name  of  his  sovereign,  and  called 
it  Louisiana.  The  valuable  and  rare  map  accompanying  this  volume 
is  a  well-executed  Jar.  nimi'/e  of  the  original.  It  aspires  to  a  dcgi'co 
of  accuracy  that  is  of  great  importance  both  to  the  historian  and  aiili- 
<piarian.  It  preserves  not  only  the  Indian  names  of  the  lakes  and 
rivers,  but  traces  the  routes  of  the  early  cxplonTs,  and  lays  down 
the  localities  of  the  numerous  Indian  tribes  who  onre  held  sway  over 
this  extensive  country. 


I 


CONTl^TS. 


An  Acrouiit  of  tlie  Louisiana  Historiciil  Pooioty, 

A  DiMTHirsu  on  the  Life,  Writing?,  ami  ClKiracter  of  tho   Hon.  Fran^.us 

X.  Martin,  LL,  D.,  lirst  President  of  tli,;  Lonijiana  Ili.^tdrical  .Sociny, 
An  Analytical  Index  of  nil  the  public  doeumonts  in  Pari.-*  relatin.i;  to  tlie 

Discovery  and  early  Settlement  of  Louisiana, 

A  Translation  of  an  original  letter  of  Hernando  de  Soto  on  tho  Conquest  of 

Floritla,         ••..... 
A  Translation  of  a  recently-discovered   ninniiscript   Journal  of  the  T'xpe- 

dition    of   Hernando    de  Soto    into    Florida,    by    Luis    Heruan.ley;     de 

Kiedma,        ••.... 
A  Narrative  of  the  f:xpedition  of  Hernando  de  Soto  into  Florida,  by  a 

Gentleman  of  Elvas,  translated  from  the  Portu^'ucsc  by  Richard   Haek- 

luyt,  in  IGO'.', 

A  description  of  the  English  province  of  Carolana,  by  the  Spaniards  called 
Florida,  and  by  the  French  la  Louisiane.  As  also  of  the  great  and 
famous  river  Meschaccbe  or  Mississippi,  the  live  vast  navigable  lakes 
of  fresh  water,  and  the  parts  adjacent.  Together  with  an  account  of 
the  commodities  of  the  growth  and  jjroduction  of  the  said  province, 
by  Daniel  Coxc, 

A  Translation  of  Marrjuette  and  Jolict's  account  of  a  Voyage  to  Discover 
the  Mississippi  River,  in  1G73 


I 

17 
43 
01 

IM 


223 

279 


I 


LOUISIANA  HISTOmCAL  SOCIETY. 


New  Oiu.KAXs,  Maij  1,  18';0. 
To  B.  F.  Frexcii,  Esq. 
Dear  Sir  : — 

Agreeably  with  your  request,  I  band  you  the  foHow- 
ing  i^aper,  showing  the  progress  as  well  as  origin  of 
our  Historical  Society,  which  you  are  at  liberty  to 
l)ublisli  in  the  forthcoming  volume  of  your  Historical 
Collections  of  our  State. 

The  Society  was  originally  established  in  IS 30,  as 
appears  from  some  of  its  records  delivered  to  me  by 
its  then  Secretary,  Louis  Janin,  Esq.,  of  this  city. 
The  first  President  was  Hon.  H.  BuUard.  Secretaries. 
Mr.  Harrison,  a  prominent  young  lawyer  of  that  time, 
and  editor  of  "  Louisiana  Condensed  Reports,"  and  Mr. 
Janin.  Among  the  officers  are  recorded  the  names  of 
Martin,  Porter,  Romac,  Canonge,  Barton;  and  among 
the  members,  Clapp,  Gray,  Eustis,  McCaleb,  Ingalls. 
Winthrop,  Rost,  Watts,  Deblieux,  Leonard,  etc.  The 
papers  of  the  old  Society  which  are  preserved  are 
very  few — among  them  the  able  address  of  Judge  Bul- 
lard,  which  you  have  published  in  the  first  volume  of 
your  Collections,  and  the  Constitution.  We  extract 
this  from  its  preamble. 


-rtvr 


I 


2  HISTORICAL  COLLFX'TIONS  OF  LOI'ISIANA. 

'•'  The  undersigned,  citizens  of  Louisiana,  wishing  to  unite  their 
labors  in  investigating  the  history  and  geography  of  the  country  for- 
merly possessed  by  France  and  Spain,  under  the  name  of  Louisiana, 
being  assembled  in  New  Orleans  on  the  L'ith  day  of  January,  I80O,  and 
having  agreed  to  associate  themselves  together,  do  adopt,  &c.  &c.  &c." 

Among  old  memoranda,  I  find  a  resolution  to  in- 
quire of  lion.  John  Dntton  relative  to  settlement  of 
Acadian  Coast  and  Tndian  tribes;  of  Dr.  Sibley,  BuUard 
and  Carr,  about  Natchitoches ;  of  Sir  "William  Dun- 
Ijar's  representatives,  about  old  papers,  and  in  regard  to 
late  Historical  Society  at  Baton  Rouge;  of  Mr.  Taylor 
relative  to  Lafourche  and  the  little  colony  of  Spa- 
niards; of  Col.  Skipwith  about  Baton  Rouge  Conven- 
tion, etc.  etc. 

The  Society  appears  soon  after  to  have  fallen  into 
decay,  for  some  reason  or  other,  and  become  almost 
entirely  extinct. 

In  June,  1846,  the  Society  was  again  revived  by 
a  meeting  of  the  following  gentlemen,  at  the  State 
House,  New  Orleans. 

JOHN  PERKINS, 
J.  D.  B.  DE  BOW, 
E.  J.  FORSTALL, 
HON.  C.  GAYARRE, 
GEN.  JOSEPH  WALKER, 
ALFRED  HENNEN. 

Gen.  Walker  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  J.  D.  B. 
De  Bow  apj^ointed  Secretary.  A  committee  to  draft 
Constitution,  consisting  of  Dr.  Ilawkes,  Alfred  Hen- 
nen,  and  J.  D.  B.  De  Bow,  reported  the  following, 
which  was  adopted. 


rl. 


CONSTITUTION 


OF  TUB 


LOUISIANA   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY, 


ADOPTED  JULY  1,  Ls4G. 


"f 


The  preservation  of  books,  pamphlets,  manuscripts,  and  records 
containing  liistorical  facts,  biographical  anecdotes,  temporary  projects, 
and  beneficial  speculations,  conduces  to  mark  the  genius,  delineate  the 
manners,  and  trace  the  progress  of  society  in  the  United  States,  and 
must  always  have  a  useful  tendency  to  rescue  the  true  history  of  the 
country  from  the  ravages  of  time,  and  the  effect  of  ignorance  or  neg- 
lect. A  collection  of  observations  and  descriptions  in  natural  history 
and  topography,  together  with  specimens  of  natural  and  artificial 
curiosities,  and  a  selection  of  everything  \(diich  can  improve  and  pro- 
mote the  historical  knowledge  of  our  country,  either  in  a  physical  or 
political  view,  has  long  been  considered  as  a  desideratum.  Such  is 
the  introductory  language  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  the 
oldest  association  of  the  kind  in  any  of  the  States  of  the  Union,  and 
in  no  language  more  forcible  and  comprehensive,  it  is  conceived,  can 
the  objects  of  the  Society  we  are  about  to  organize  be  expressed. 

ARTICLE  I. 

This  Society  shall  be  called  the  Historical  Society  of  Louisiana. 

ARTICLE  II. 

It  shall  consist  of  resident  and  honorary  members,  the  former  to  be 
of  the  State  of  Louisiana,  the  latter  of  other  States. 


mtt  I  oiw— 


IIISTOIUCAL  COLLKCTIONS  OF  LOUISIAXA. 


AllTirLE  III. 

Tliij  officers  of  tlu'  Society  shall  be  a  President,  six  \'ico-J*resi(k'nts, 
two  Secretaries,  wliereof  one  shall  be  a  recording,  and  the  other  a  cor- 
responding Secretary,  a  Treasurer  and  Librarian  elected  annually,  and 
by  ballot. 

AirncLE  i\'. 

There  shall  be  an  Executive  Connnittee  consisting  of  seven  nieiu- 
bers  appointed  anntia/lj/  by  the  President,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to 
solicit  and  receive  donations,  to  recommend  plans  for  promoting  the 
ends  of  the  Societ}',  to  digest  and  jjrepare  business,  and  to  executt' 
such  other  duties  as  may  lie  entrusted  to  them  from  time  to  time,  re- 
porting the  result  at  the  regular  meetings  of  the  Society. 

ARTICLE  y. 

The  Society  shall  meet  regularly  on  the  first  Wednesday  evening  of 
each  month. 

AUTICLE  \1. 

All  resident  members  shall  contribute  for  the  use  of  the  Society 
five  dollars  annually,  to  be  paid  over  to  the  Treasurer. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

^Members  shall  be  elected  by  ballot,  on  their  names  being  presented 
to  the  Society,  but  no  individual  can  be  elected  a  member  without  re- 
ceiving the  votes  of  four-fifths  of  those  present. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

This  Constitution  shall  not  be  altered,  or  amended,  or  abrogated, 
without  a  vote  of  four-lifths  of  the  members  present,  previous  notice 
of  one  mouth  having  been  given. 

An  election  for  officers  resulted  in  Hon.  Francois 
Xavier  Martin  being  elected  the  President. 

J.  D.  B.  De  Bow,  from  the  Executive  Connnittee,  re- 
ported the  following  circular  letter  : — 


r* 


I.oriSlAXA  inSTORICAL  Sdfir.TY. 


CIRCULAR  OF  THE  LOUISIANA  IILSTOIUCAL 

SOCIETY, 

For  tlio  purpose  of  eliciting  information  in  ri'lation  to  tlu"  varinu-, 
subjopts  prnpor  for  tlio  cognizance  of  Historical  Associations,  the  fol- 
lowing ((uerios  arc  published.  They  will  be  sent  to  the  members  of 
the  Society  at  large,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  will  receive  a  due  portion  of 
regard.  A  general  invitation  is,  however,  e.xtendeil  to  all  persons 
who  may  have  it  in  their  power,  in  any  manni'r,  to  promote  the  ob- 
jects of  the  association.  If  the  Louisiana  Historical  Society  does  not 
publish  its  "Collections"  as  other  societies  have,  much  will  luive  bicii 
gained  by  preserving  them  among  its  archives  as  subjects  for  the 
future  historian.  Letters  on  any  and  every  subject  interesting  to  the 
Society  will  be  received  v/ith  pleasure,  and  they  may  either  be  ad- 
dressed to  the  President,  to  the  Executive  Committee,  or  to  the  Sec- 
retary. 

HON.  F.  XA\'lJ<:il  MAHTIX,  P.e^Uhnt. 

KXECUTIVE  rOMMITTEK. 


J.  V.  Benjamin, 

E.  J.  FoRSTALL, 

J)r.  Hawkes, 


Al.KRED  HeXNEN, 

L.  Jamx, 

Prof.  J.  L.  Pidueei, 


J.  I).  B.  He  Low, 


QUEKTFS. 

1.  Time  of  settlement  of  your  parish;  dates  of  oldest  land  gr:nit< ; 
number  and  condition  first  settlers;  whence  emigrating;  other  facts 
relating  to  settlement  and  history  ? 

2.  Indian  name  parish;  what  tribes  originally;  what  relics  or 
monuments  of  them  ;  if  Indians  still,  in  what  condition  ? 

.').  Biography,  anecdotes,  i^-e.,  of  individuals  distinguished  in  your 
vicinity  in  the  past  for  ingenuity,  enterprise,  literature,  talents,  civil 
or  military,  &c. '{ 

4.  Topographical  descriptions  of  your  parish,  mountains,  rivers, 
ponds,  animals,  vegetable  growth,  rocks,  minerals,  sands,  clays,  chalk, 
Hint,  marble,  pitcoal,  pigments,  medicinal  and  poisonous  substances, 
&c.  't 


,  «\  »» 


G 


III>T()UI(AI.  (OM-ECTIONS  OF  LOIISIANA. 


I.; 


T).  iMiniMT  ;iii(l  prt  .«i'iit  sliito  of  cultivntion  in  i)!iii.--li  ;  chiin^j^i's 
fiikiiiir  1i1;hc  ;  iiitriKliU'tiuii  of  cotton,  snjjar  ami  rict;;  what  lands  oc- 
i-ii])!t'(l  am!  unot'cupu'd  ;  (|uality  of  soil ;  iniprovi'nu;nts  snggcsti'il  in 
cultivation  and  new  },'rowtlis ;  iniprovenicntH  in  comnnniii'tition,  roads, 
liridgi's,  canals,  isn'.  ;  value  of  land;  kind  and  (|ualitii's  of  linilier; 
density  of  iioiiuljititm,  capacity  of  raising  stock,  iVc.  '^ 

(5.  Instances  of  longevity  and  fecundity  ;  observations  on  diseases 
in  your  section  ;  on  the  weather,  climate,  healthy  or  otherwise — on 
the  necessity  of  sununer  seats,  kv.  ? 

7.  Increase  and  ])rogress  of  population  in  your  parish,  distinguish- 
ing blacks  and  whites ;  advantages  of  schools  and  libraries  enjoyed; 
proportion  educated  '{ 

S.  Churches  or  chapels  in  the  parish;  wln'U  und  l>y  whom  erected; 
how  sup}plied  with  clergy;  Innv  sujtported  and  attended;  oMost  in- 
terments, church  vaults,  t*i:c.  'f 

It.  Date,  extent,  consequences  anil  other  circumstances  of  droughts, 
freshets,  whirlwinds,  storms,  lightning,  hurricanes,  or  other  remark- 
able physical  events  in  your  section,  from  remote  p^'riods — other 
meteorological  phenomena  ? 

10.  Literary  productions  emanating  from  your  ncigliliorliood ;  your 
literary,  seientilie  or  art  associations,  if  any;  what  luanuscripts,  pri- 
vate records,  letters,  journals,  kc,  or  rare  old  l)ooks,  interesting  in 
their  relation  to  the  history  of  Louisiana,  tiro  possessed  by  individuals 
within  your  knowledge — state  any  other  matters  of  interest  ? 

.Fudge  Martin,  who  has  written  the  history  of  the 
State,  and  was  a  curious  collector  of  old  documents, 
stated  in  some  of  his  remarks  before  the  Societ}-,  the 
followinu',  which  was  noted  by  the  Secretary, 

There  was  an  old  Spanish  book  or  manuscript  re- 
garding Louisiana,  its  physical  history,  &c.,  once  con- 
sulted by  him,  haying  borrowed  it  from  the  owner, 
Don  Seriaco  de  Ceraos,  who  died  in  1815.  The 
daughter  of  a  phj'sician  sent  out  by  the  King  of 
France  to  this  city,  married  Judge  Watts.  He  may 
liaye  left  some  papers.  Hon.  Edward  Eyerett  was 
chairman  of  a  committee  of  Congress  to  purchase  the 
French  and  Spanish  books  collected  by  the   Spanish 


LOUISIANA  IIISTOllirAL  S(i(  IKTV 


consul.  JJislio[)  IMiiiK!  mijilit  (>l)t!iin  IVoiu  llic  cuimIcs 
ol'our  ])arislK's  mnoli  valuiiljle  iiilormiitioii.  Sir  Wil- 
liam Dimhar  k't't  valuable  ))iii)('rs,  iuloi-niatioii  ol'  Nvliirli 
nii'iht  !»('  luul  IVom  Mr.  Uohcrt  O.udcii. 

Ill  tho  tall  ol'  ISlC,  the  Hon.  15.  V.  Porter  of  Ala- 
bama (lolivc'ivd  a  j)ublic  address  before;  the  Society. 

Ill  December  of  the  same  year,  our  venerable  Pre- 
sident, Judge  Martin,  died  at  his  residence  in  ilii< 
city.  An  eulojiium  was  pronounced  o\ei-  his  remains 
by  the  lion.  II.  A.  P,ullar(l. 

The  Society  has  received  interestinu'  letters  from 
Hon.  Joel  li.  Poinsett,  and  Win.  (Jilmore  Simnis,  of 
South  Carolina;  Hon.  Thomas  II.  Benton,  Missouri; 
Jlon.  Lewis  Cass,  Michigan;  Hon.  H.  <'hiy,  Ken- 
tucky; Professor  Stepheii.s,  of  Georgia  ;  Mr.  Creeii- 
how,  of  Washington,  D.  C.  ;  Judge  Bry,  Ouachita,  &c. 

Dr.  Wurdeman,  of  South  Carolina,  jjivsented  the 
Society  a  few  books  relating  to  Cuba  ;  and  Senator 
Johnson,  of  Louisiana,  has  regulai'ly  furnished  Con- 
gressional and  other  documents. 

In  the  summer  of  1847  the  Society  was  incorpcj- 
rated,  and  Hon.  H.  Bullard  elected  President.  The 
Secretaries,  John  Perkins  and  J.  I).  B.  De  Bow,  were 
appointed  to  visit  the  various  societies  at  the  north. 
and  open  interchanges  of  documents  and  correspond- 
ence.    This  duty  they  regularly  performed. 

Hon.  T.  H.  McCaleb  was  requested  to  correspond 
with  the  heirs  of  the  late  Judge  Porter  about  docu- 
ments ;  and  Judge  Bullard,  witli  Mr.  Bouligny,  about 
his  papers  regarding  the  landing  of  O'Reilly. 

Hon.  Charles  Gayarre  was  elected  to  deliver  the 
annual  address,  which  he  did,  upon  the  •'  Romance  of 
the  History  of  Louisiana," 


8  lIISTOUU'Ar,  COLLKCTIONS  (»F  I/»ri>l.\.\A. 

UiuliT  the  auspices  oi'  the  Society,  the  h'<;isljitiire. 
in  1S47,  uViu\o  an  appropriation  of  two  thousand  dol- 
lars, to  })rocure  copies  of  oriirinal  docunienls  from 
Spain. 

Tho  Jiycnt  c'lDjiliiycd  was  Sr.  l*ascuiil  dc  <iayanir(>s,  and  lie  soeiiis 
to  lijivo  entered  ujton  his  dutits  and  jirosccntcd  tlinii  with  imicli  dis- 
iiitLTc'stod  zoah  His  IjiImus  wore  mainly  din-ctt'd  to  tiie  anhivi's  in 
the  city  of  Seville,  whither  they  had  been  transjxirted  fnmi  the  city 
of  .Madrid  in  1S2S.  Sonic  researehes  were  iiiadi'  in  Madrid.  The 
papers  in  both  jilaees  were  found  to  be  in  extreme  disorder,  tied  up 
in  bundles,  not  even  labelleil,  and  without  elassilieation.  The  time 
allowed  for  examination  was  very  small,  the  arehives  beiuji  opened 
only  three  hours  in  the  day,  for  five  days  in  the  week  It  is  not  per- 
mitted to  make  extraets,  except  by  the  officers  of  the  establishment, 
and  this  increased  the  delay  and  the  expense,  as  the  rates  were  high. 
IJesides,  the  oftic<'s  are  closed  on  every  holiday — and  sometimes  for 
long  vacations.  There  appears  to  have  been  a  further  em})arrassment 
in  the  refusal  of  the  Duke  of  Sijtomayor  to  permit  the  examination  of 
the  papers  of  his  father,  while  Minister  to  the  Tnited  States,  on  the 
ground  that  he  was  concerned  in  secret  correspondence  for  the  sepa- 
ration of  a  part  of  the  United  States.  3Ir.  Saunders  made  a  per- 
sonal repre.«ei\tation,  which  obtained  an  order  that  ]Mr.  (Jayangos  might 
examine  all  the  papers  in  the  office  of  (Jraoe  anil  Justice,  where  all 
that  relates  to  Louisiana  is  said  to  be,  but  have  no  copies  without  the 
consent  of  the  Minister.  Mr.  Saunders,  in  his  letter  to  3Ir.  Gayan- 
gos,  expresses  the  opinion  that  the  important  secret  papers  had  been 
taken  away.  In  a  subsequent  letter,  the  agent  states  that  he  has 
been  unable  to  find  the  secret  papers  relating  to  the  correspondence  of 
Gen.  Wilkinson  with  the  Consul  of  Spain. 

In  another  letter,  he  speaks  of  having  obtained  proof,  by  their  own 
correspondence,  of  the  intrigue  in  which  "\Vilkin.son  and  t)thers  were 
concerned,  to  separate  Kentucky,  Ohio,  and  other  States  from  the 
Union.  It  seems,  at  this  day,  that  men  must  have  lieen  crazy  to  en- 
tertain such  a  notion,  but  nevertheless,  the  charge  has  been  often 
made,  and  now  appears  to  be  susceptible  of  documentary  evidence. 

Sr.  Gayangos  has  sent  to  Mr.  Gayarre  several  bundles  of  important 
documents,  derived  from  these  sources.  He  has  not  yet  had  access  to 
the  Foreign  Office,  nor  quite  completed  his  examinations  into  the 
office  of  Grace  and  Justice— G'racAf  >/  Justkut. 


1 


LOUISIANA  III>rollI('Al,  SOCIKTY. 


0 


1 


Till'  j.npor?)  »vccivc(l  swr  in  tin"  i'Unti)i]y  of  tlic  Socivtary  <  f  Statf. 
iiii'l  liavi'  lint  yet  Ijcfu  t'xaiiiiiicil 

Tlio  State  has  puicliasiMl  about  a  tliousaml  pajzes 
tif  inanus('ri[)ts  (in  two  (juarto  voluiiu's,)  lu'In-i'  i)riii- 
•  •ipally  short  extracts  taken  Iroiii  iiiciiioirs,  letters,  re- 
l)orts,  &e.,  hy  Mr.  Majiiie,  one  of  the  editors  of  the 
•' L'Aheille,"  (hiring'  liis  residence  in  Paris. 

Mr.  Forstall  has  also  uiven  a  full  and  elal)orate 
inde.K  and  analysis  of  tlie  documents  relatin^'to  Louis- 
iana, in  Paris. 

In  the  sunnner  of  Is  IS,  Jolm  Perkins,  Ks(j..  was 
delejiated  hy  the  Society  to  make  researches  in  Kurope 
lor  interesting  matter  lelative  to  Louisiana.  What 
he  has  yet  achieved  will  appear  Irom  the  foUowinii 
most  interesting  letter. 

I'ARIS,  Jf.irr/i  24,   1S4!». 

Sir  : — I  owe  you  ;in  apolo(.'y  I'ur  tlio  little  allusion  I  have  liori'td- 
tbro  niudo  to  tlio  historical  rosearolics  in  which  you  feel  so  much  in- 
terest. I  assure  you  thoy  have  not  been  out  of  my  ujind  ;  liut  my 
hejilth  was  so  delicate  fur  the  iirst  three  months  after  my  arrival  at 
Paris,  that  I  seldom  left  ray  room,  except  for  a  ride,  and  was  never 
free  from  pain.  Of  course,  work  was  out  of  the  question.  I,  how- 
ever, through  the  kindness  nf  our  Consul,  3Ir.  Walsh,  made  the  ac- 
quaintance of  ji  gentleman  who,  writing  the  history  of  La  S;dle,  had 
occasion  thoroughly  to  examine  all  the  papers  relating  t(.»  the  earl}- 
settlement  of  our  State,  and  I  found  from  him  that  the  tieliJ  was  nmch 
wider  than  I  expected.  Not  only  is  the  Marino  Department  rich  in 
materials  of  historical  interest  to  Louisiana,  but  there  are  also  in  the 
War  and  Foreign  Departments,  the  archives  and  different  public 
libraries  of  Paris,  many  documents  of  a  most  interesting  kind,  that 
seem  to  have  escaped  the  attention  of  Mr.  ]''orstall,  and  even  of  Mr. 
Crayarre. 

I  have  now,  through  the  assistance  of  our  ^linister,  3Ir.  Rush,  and 
the  courtesy  of  the  gentlemen  at  the  head  of  the  different  depart- 
ments, been  permitted  unrestricted  examination  of  these  papers,  and 
their  value  cannot  be  exaggerated,     The  want  of  system,  and  the 


lit 


IIISTftllirAL  COLI.KCTIONH  (»F  I,(»1'ISIA\.\. 


Imwe  niiinnur  in  wliicli  tlioy  woro  thrown  together,  coinjilainod  of  by 
Mr.  I'nrstall,  nml  th.-it  roiulored  Mr.  Hroadhiad'H  resciirrho.s  for  the 
Stiito  of  \(\v  York  so  LdioriouH,  are  only  to  ji  certain  I'xttnt  rcinedicil. 
Then!  arc  wtill  mingldil  in  hirgc  volunu-.s  pftpcrs  without  order  of  dato, 
and  Honio  of  no  date,  whose  epoch  can  he  assigned  only  ]>y  a  know- 
ledge of  the  date  of  the  events  to  which  they  refer.  The  present 
Ooverninent  has,  however,  appointed  a  eoniniission  to  classify  and  ar- 
rang.',  witli  a  view  to  future  jmhlieation,  the  most  iinpnrtaut  papers 
tiiucbiiig  French  colonial  settlomcnts  in  America,  and  it  is  expected 
that  by  the  end  of  another  year,  there  will  be  published  all  that  relates 
particularly  to  Louisiana,  up  to  the  period  of  the  discovery  l)y  sea  of 
the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  by  I,)' Iberville,  in  1(107,  and  the  first 
establishment  of  Louisiana,  in  accordance  with  the  project  of  M.  Do 
Kt'iuonvillc.  yi.  Margry  expects  to  pu})lish  his  life  of  La  Salle 
about  the  same  time.  These  two  publications  will  cover  everything  of 
interest  up  to  that  date.  The  period  of  sixty-six  years,  that  extends 
from  that  time  to  the  termination  of  the  French  rule  in  170;),  the 
epoch  of  the  cession  of  Louisiana  to  Spain,  is  full  of  interest ;  and  the 
documents  derive  more  than  merely  historical  interest  from  the  minute 
iletails  given  of  the  agriculture,  cliniate,  and  diseases  of  the  new  set- 
tlement. 

From  that  date  to  the  sale  of  Louisiana  to  Jefferson,  the  papers 
are  less  numerous,  and  treat  of  circumstances  more  generally  known. 
Tliere  are  a  few,  however,  even  of  this  epoch,  of  much  interest.  Uu- 
<ier  the  circumstances,  I  conclude  it  would  most  subserve  the  purposes 
of  our  Historical  Society  to  begin  with  u  transcript  of  the  papers 
where  the  publication  on  the  part  of  the  French  Government  ceases. 
Accordingly,  I  hope  to  send  you  during  the  ensuing  season  a  digest, 
chronob)gically  arranged,  of  all  the  papers  in  the  different  archives  of 
the  French  Government  referring  to  Louisiana,  from  the  date  of  Ibcr- 
A-ille's  landing  in  1GU7,  down  to  its  final  acquisition  in  1803  by  the 
United  States.  The  labor  of  this  composition  has  been  great — much 
more  than  I  could  have  achieved  even  with  health  by  myself.  I  have 
been  fortunate  in  securing  the  services  of  3Ir.  Margry,  to  whose  mi- 
nute familiarity  with  the  archives  of  the  Government  and  the  early 
history  of  our  State  must  be  ascribed  any  merit  that  the  digest  may 
be  found  to  possess. 

When  I  tell  you  that  it  fills  a  large  (juarto  of  500  closely  written 
pages,  you  will  sec  how  impossible  the  idea  I  first  conceived  of  send- 
ing home  cii'tified  copies  of  the  documents  themselves.     Louisiana 


1 


LOUISIANA  HISTnllirAL  SnciKIV 


11 


•;i;.l.',  til  have  thoin.     Sb-    owes  it  to  liiTSt'lf  to  inllct  this  |)roiM  r 
|Kitrinioiiy  nf  lar  b^.tii'/  in  the  «<  'T'I  of  un  curly  lii^ti-ry  ulinunilitig  in 
Mvi'l  iiH'iik'ul,  HUil  illu«,f/a{<''l  with  ii  'lisphiy  of  the  nohhst  trails  ot' 
iii;ii.',"<  iKitiii'i'.     >■  w  York  h:is  ^  f  .'i  ;.'0(m1  i-xnuiiih.'  in  the  liirL'c  ap]>in 
jiriatiou   that  enabled     ur  jiri'Si'iit  Seiri.tikry  "f  iji^;iiii.n,   Mr.  Ihol 
!ie:i  i,  to  pursue  his  reaearclie.s  for  four  years  in  rralirr,  Kiijiland,  anl 
•hi   Ila;rue.     lie  wiio  would  now  write  a  history  of  that  State  inu»i 
l't;:iii   Iiy  eonijilinienting   the  enli},diteneil   s-iiirit  that    places  all  hi- 
i;iut(  rials  ill   the   hall  of  lier   llistorieal  Society.     Ma-.-'ailiusetts  tw- 
;  ear-  since  made  a  similar  collection  at  the  instance  nf  Messrs.  Spark- 
:.uo  Kv.'ivtt,  whose  personal  I'xaiiiiiiatiuu  nf  the  dilVrreiit  fni'ii;:u  ai 
1  liives  tauyht  tlieni  tho  value  of  manuscripts,  now  t'nrtunatcly  within 
t!ie  ixai  h  nf  every  student  of  Harvard.     If  the  iiieninraiida  I  >eiid  c.tii 
assist  in  any  way  tho  llistorieal  Society  of  Ijouisiani.  in  aceomplisl; 
ilia  the  purpose  of  its  institution,  and  in  attractiuL'  attention  to  th. 
iut(iL.-t  of  nur  early  history,  I  shall  !k'  gratilied,  and  >hall  feel  that  I 
lia\e  aekunwledged  in  some  sort,  the  politeness  of  (.iov.  Johnsi  u'suotc 
(•alliiiL;  my  attention  to  the  subject. 

With  much  regard,  your  friend. 

.rOII.V  I'KltKINS 
■)    1).  15.  !)K  How,  Iwp 

The  Louisiana  Historical  Society  lias  yet  sciirceh 
iiidi'c  llian  passed  its  iiilaiicy.  Jt  uill  be  foi'  tliosc 
will)  come  after  u.s  to  adorn  and  coni])lete  the  e(Hlic(- 
wliDst'  foundation  we  have  hut  harely  laid. 

I  ain:ex  a  list  of  reo'ular  and  lionorary  ineniher.>-. 
!)Ut  lew  of  whom  have  taken  any  actirc  part  in  thr 
business  of  tlie  Societv. 

Your  oljedicnt  servant. 

J.  D.  B.  DE  BOW.  Sonr'air;/. 


-f 


JE   .' 


^ 


M  E  M  E  E  R  S 


nF  THE 


HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  OF  LOUISIANA, 


Hon.  ir.  A.  ]5iiIIar(l,  President,       Xcw  Orloan?. 

J.  I)  E.  Do  ]5()w,  E,sq.,  Seorotaiy,  " 

Hon.  F.  X.  3Jaitin, 

Ilcn.  Isaac  Johnson, 

Hon.  Joseph  "Walker, 

Tlnn.  Solomon  ^V.  Downs, 

Hon.  Henry  Johnson, 

Hon.  rieorgo  Eustis, 

Hon.  Thomas  81klell, 

Hon.  Geo.  Strawbridge, 

Hon.  C.  Gayarro, 
Hon.  Charles  "W'atts, 
Rov.  Dr.  R  L.  Hawks, 
Bcnj.  F.  French,  Esq. 
E.  J.  Forstall,  PJsq. 
3Iiles  Taylor,  Esfj. 
Seth  Lewis,  Esq. 
Professor  C.  J.  Forshey, 
A.  M.  Michel,  Esq. 
Bernard  Marigny,  Esrj. 
E.  Mazureau,  Esq. 
Lucius  Duncan,  Esq. 


(I 
u 
(( 
(( 
<c 
(I 

iC 
(C 

t( 

(< 
i( 
(I 
u 
i( 
(I 
t( 
ic 
({ 


Jf  -' 


LIST  OF  MEMBERS, 


13 


Alexander  Gordon,  E.*(i. 

New  Orleans. 

lion.  Setb  Barton,  Esq. 

« 

3Iaun,scl  White,  Es(j. 

(( 

J.  Nicholson,  Escj. 

(( 

f^idney  Johnson,  E,'^(| 

<i 

Hon.  A.  B.  Boman, 

11 

lion.  Trasimond  Lundry, 

(1 

Hon.  Isaac  Preston, 

(( 

Hon.  P.  A.  Bost, 

ti 

Hon.  Henry  Bry, 

3Ionroe. 

Hon.  Pierre  Soule, 

New  Orleans. 

Hon.  Henry  Carleton, 

(( 

David  Bandall,  Esq. 

Donaldsonville 

l^afayctto  Saunders,  Esf(. 

Feliciana. 

Thomas  Beatty,  Esq. 

Tliibodeaux. 

Judge  Butler, 

Feliciana. 

John  Button,  Esq. 

Plaquemines. 

J.  Winchester,  Es(j. 

St.  James. 

Judge  Jones, 

Tammany. 

G.  Walterston,  Esf[. 

Living-ston. 

Col.  Nicholas, 

Ascension. 

Judge  Guion, 

La  Fourche. 

C.  Morgan,  Esq. 

Point  Coup(:'e. 

J.  B.  Carr,  Esq. 

Natchitoches. 

Dr.  R.  H.  Sibley, 

Bapides. 

Dr.  W.  Davidson, 

u 

Judge  King, 

St.  Landry. 

J.  K.  Elgee,  Es(j. 

Bapides. 

Hon.  B.  F.  Porter, 

Alabama. 

Samuel  J.  Peters,  Esq. 

New  Orleans. 

Dr.  W.  Kennedy, 

ii 

Dr.  T.  Clapp, 

a 

Dr.  Wedderstrandt, 

a 

Dr.  W.  31.  Carpenter, 

(( 

Dr.  A.  B.  Cenas, 

(( 

Dr.  F.  Lebeau, 

(( 

Dr.  F.  A.  Jones, 

(( 

Dr.  Harrison, 

ce 

Dr.  W.  ]J.  Hart, 

t( 

Dr.  C.  Luzcnberg. 

i( 

l^nmnni'iir-. 


14 


LIST  OF  MEMBERS. 


I 


i 


Dr.  F.  Axson, 

Xow  Orleans 

Dr.  W.  McCauley, 

(( 

Dr.  E.  H.  IJarton, 

« 

Dr.  J.  L.  Hidden, 

« 

Judge  Deljlioux, 

(( 

Judge  Li^onard, 

<i 

John  R.  (] rimes,  p]sq. 

ii 

Hon.  11.  H.  Wilde, 

11 

Hon.  T.  H.  iVIeCaleb, 

(( 

Judge  Jlorpby, 

.  « 

Thomas  J.  Durant,  Esq. 

« 

Judge  Labranche, 

^( 

H.  B.  Cenas,  Esq. 

u 

J.  L.  Sigur,  Esq. 

K 

W.  E.  Elmore,  Esq. 

it 

Professor  Dimitry, 

li 

M.  M.  Cohen,  Esq. 

« 

B.  M.  Norman,  Esq. 

(( 

E.  A.  Bradford,  Esq. 

it 

General  Planche, 

U 

Bishop  Leonidas  Polk, 

it 

Bishop  Blanc, 

« 

Judge  Canonge, 

u 

Martin  Blache,  Esq. 

« 

Edward  Simon,  Esq. 

It 

J.  Dunbar,  Esq. 

ft 

W.  Micon,  Esq. 

tt 

Levi  Pierce,  Esq. 

it 

A.  Moise,  Esq. 

It 

Gustavus  Schmidt,  Esq. 

it 

C.  Roselius,  Esq. 

tt 

A.  Maybin,  Esq. 

tt 

R.  Ogdeu,  Esq. 

it 

W.  Relf,  Esq. 

tt 

Charles  Dcrbigny,  Esq. 

tt 

H.  BuUard,  Jr.,  Esq. 

tt 

W.  Walker,  Esq. 

it 

L.  Janin,  Esq. 

tt 

A.  Hennen,  Esq. 

It 

J.  Perkins,  Esq. 

li 

J.  Winthrop,  Esq. 

tt 

LIST  OF  MEMBERS. 


15 


HONORARY  Mf:MBERS. 

W.  Gilmore  Simms,  South  Carolina. 

Joel  R.  Poinsett,  " 

Thomas  Benton,  ^lissouri. 

Lewis  Cass,  iMichigan. 

Henry  Clay,  Kentucky. 


tjmmmtm:.-^^  *.. 


r 


A  DISCOURSE 


ON 


THE  LIFE,  CHARACTER,  AND  WRITINGS 


OK  THE 


HON.  FRANCOIS  XAVIER  MARTIN,  LL.  D. 

l.ATE  SENIOR  JUDGE  OF  THE  SlU'REME  COURT,   AND  FIRST  PRESIDENT 
OF  TUE  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


BY 


HENRY  A.  BULLARD, 

ORE  OF  THE  LATE  COHEAOUES  OF  THK   DECEASED. 


ItENTLEM EN  : 

It  has  been  the  usage  of  most  polished  nations,  on  the  demise  of  men 
who  had  become  eminent  in  any  of  the  departments  of  public  af    irs, 
to  set  apart  a  short  time  to  be  devoted  to  the  consideration  of    aeir 
merits  and  their  services.     If  they  had  deserved  well  of  their  cu..utry 
— if  they  had  left  their  impress  on  the  generation  in  which  they 
flourished,  it  is  proper  that  their  memory  should  go  down  to  posterity 
accompanied  by  the  testimonials  of  their  cotemporarics.     This  is  less 
important  in  relation  to  the  successful  soldier  who  has  fought  the 
battles  of  his  country,  and  the  distinguished  statesman  who  has  skill- 
fully piloted  the  vessel  of  state,  because  history  is  almost  exclusively 
devoted  to  recount  their  exploits  and  blazon   their  triumplis;  but 
those  whose  fame  is  to  be  measured  by  their  usefulness,  during  a 
long  and  noiseless  career,  in  the  more  tranquil  and  less  ambitious  pur- 
suits of  life,  and  especially  in  the  magistracy,  ought  not  to  be  per- 
raitted  to  pass  oiF  the  stage  without  dwelling  for  a  few  moments  upon 
their  merits,  and  holding  them  up  as  examples  worthy  of  being  fol- 
lowed by  the  generation  which  is  to  succeed  us. 
8 


18 


UISTOKICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


It  w;is  in  conipliauco  with  tliis  vis;igo  that  the  Iku-  of  Now  Orleans, 
on  the  ik'nii.so  of  Fram/oi.s  Navier  Martin,  did  me  the  honor,  as  the 
oldest  of  the  late  colleaguerf  of  the  deceased,  to  request  nic  to  jiro- 
uouiice,  on  this  occasion,  a  discourse  upon  his  life  and  character.  Of 
a  man  whom  1  have  known  for  more  than  thirty  years,  nearly  twelve 
of  which  were  passed  in  the  discharge  of  arduous  duties  hy  his  side, 
it  is  imiiossible  for  me  to  speak  in  the  set  phrase  of  common-place  eulo- 
gium — such  language  would  be  unsuited  to  the  occasion — unworthy 
of  him  and  of  myself.  I  shall  endeavor  rather,  by  spreading  before 
you  what  ho  has  accomplished,  and  what  he  has  written,  to  let  him 
portray  himself,  and  thereby  show  you  what  eminent  tjualitics  he 
possessed  as  a  scholar,  a  jurist,  and  a  man. 

Judge  ]Martin  was  born  at  Marseilles,  in  France,  on  the  17th  of 
March,  1702,  and  descended  from  one  of  the  most  ancient  and  re- 
spectable families  of  l*rovenye.  His  father  was  a  merchant  of  high 
standing,  a  man  of  piety  and  extreme  exactness  in  the  management 
of  his  business,  lie  was  the  third  of  a  largo  number  of  children. 
His  early  education  was  strictly  domestic,  and  his  studies  were  con- 
ducted by  a  learned  ecclesiastic,  who  acted  at  the  same  time  as  chap- 
lain of  the  ftimily.  Under  his  tuition  he  accjuired  a  critical  knowledge 
of  the  Latin  language,  and  the  elements  of  the  English  and  Italian. 
As  he  was  destined  for  commercial  pursuits,  his  education,  up  to  the 
age  of  seventeen,  was  such  as  to  (jualify  him  for  that  profession.  So 
exact  was  his  knowledge  of  Latin,  and  his  recollection  of  some  of  the 
classics,  that  he  was  fond  of  reciting,  at  a  very  advanced  age,  long 
passages  from  Horace,  who  was  his  favorite  author. 

Ife  had  one  uncle,  who  was  connected  with  the  French  army  in 
Canada,  in  the  commissary  department,  about  the  time  of  the  con- 
quest of  that  province  by  Great  Britain;  and  another  in  Martinique, 
who  had  the  supply  of  provisions  from  the  French  navy  in  those  seas, 
and  who  had  amassed  a  considerable  fortune.  He  was  a  bachelor, 
and  somewhat  advanced  in  years.  Young  Martin,  at  the  age  of  about 
seventeen  or  eighteen  years,  sailed  for  ]Martini(jue,  with  a  view  of 
joining  his  uncle,  and  going  into  business  under  his  auspices,  and  by 
his  assistance.  Ho  had  not  been  long  there,  before  his  uncle  con- 
cluded to  return  to  France,  where  he  died  soon  afterwards.  He  with- 
drew his  capital  from  businc-s,  but  left  his  nephew  the  mea.-  oC 
commencing  an  establishment  on  his  own  account ;  but  through  youth 
and  inexperience,  he  was  unsuccessful.  How  long  he  remained  in  the 
i.sland,  I  have  not  been  able  to  learn  with  much  precision — it  is  sup- 
posed about  three  or  four  years.     Having  bcou  interested  in  oommer- 


\ 


I 


HON.  FRANCOIS  XAVIER  MAUTIN. 


19 


1-^ 


L'ial  adventures  to  the  Carcilinas,  where  the  person  eoncerneil  with  hint 
Lad  died,  he  embarked  on  Ijeard  a  sehooner  bound  for  \ortli  (.'arulina. 
in  hoj)e.s  of  reeovering  t-oniething  whieh  was  dui'  to  him.  In  this 
also  he  was  unsucee,ssful.  It  was  under  sueh  eireunistanees  that  the 
.subject  of  this  memoir  found  himself  in  Newbern,  North  Carolina, 
at  the  age  of  about  twenty,  destitute  of  resources,  among  strangers 
whose  language  he  understood  imperfectly,  if  he  could  speak  it  at  all. 
But  he  did  not  suffer  himself  to  despair;  ashamed  to  return  to  hi.v 
native  place,  he  determined  to  employ  to  the  best  account  the  means 
which  his  early  education  had  furnished  him.  He  engaged  in  various 
pursuits,  and  among  others  the  teaching  of  the  French  language.  It 
occurred  to  him  that  something  might  be  done  in  the  printing  busi- 
nes.'?,  of  whieh  he  was  at  that  time  entirely  ignorant.  Tie  offered 
himself  to  the  only  master  printer  then  in  Newbern,  by  the  name  of 
James  Clark,  a  kind-hearted  man,  who  gave  him  employment  in  hi.«i 
office.  But  finding  that  young  Martin  knew  nothing  of  the  practical 
business  of  a  compositor,  he  made  the  remark  to  him.  Tiie  excuse 
given  by  Martin  was  that  the  types  are  distributed  in  the  boxes  dif- 
ferently in  France,  and  that  it  would  take  some  time  to  get  the  run 
of  them.  The  good  easy  nuui  was  patient  with  him,  until  he  became 
a  very  expert  compositor,  and  continued  for  some  time  in  his  employ- 
ment. In  the  mean  time,  he  became  more  generally  known,  acquired 
a  better  Icnowledge  of  l']nglish,  and  wherever  he  was  known  was  re- 
,<!pected  for  his  industry  and  diligence.  He  finally  either  bought  out 
his  first  employer,  or  with  the  assistance  of  friends  purchased  au  old 
font  of  types  and  a  press,  and  set  up  for  himself  as  a  printer.  He 
published  a  newspaper,  school  books,  almanacs,  the  journals  and  acts 
of  the  general  assembly,  and  did  other  jobs  of  that  kind,  until  his 
establishment  became  somewhat  lucrative. 

lli.s  connection  with  the  press  inspired  him  with  the  idea  of  de- 
voting hinj.self  to  the  study  of  the  law.  Tn  this  he  was  encouraged 
by  several  friends,  but  especially  by  one  who  was  at  the  same  time 
eminent  in  the  profession,  and  possessed  a  liberal  mind.  That  man 
was  Abner  Nash,  who  had  become  aecjuainted  with  him,  discovered 
his  capacity,  his  classical  attainments,  and  his  constancy  in  adverse 
fortune.  It  was  under  the  auspices,  and  with  the  assistance  of  Mi. 
Nash,  that  he  prosecuted  his  legal  studies.  Judge  Martin  always 
spoke  of  that  gentleman  as  his  early  benefactor  and  friend. 

lie  was  of  course  first  educated  in  the  common  law,  and  at  that 
time  acijuired  the  accurate  and  extensive  knowledge  of  its  principles 
which  marked  his  whole  future  career  iu  his  profession.     lie  was  a 


'rr^ 


20 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


•ircat  admirer  of  those  strnnj^  harrior.s  which  that  system  of  law? 
throws  around  the  personal  rijihts  of  the  citizen,  against  the  invasions 
of  arbitrary  power — of  its  broad  distinctions,  the  flexibility  with  which 
it  adapts  itself  to  the  progressive  changes  of  society,  and  the  complex 
transactions  of  man.  Hence  he  sometimes  felt  himself  cramped  by 
the  restraints  of  a  written  code — and  I  remember  that  perhaps  on 
more  than  one  occasion,  when  reminded  by  coun.scl  of  that  injunc- 
tion of  the  JiOuisiana  code  which  forbids  the  judge  disregard  the 
icords  iif  a  liur  under  the  prrtcrt  of  pursuing  its  spirit,  ho  replied, 
"(Certainly  never  viulcr  f/if  ]>rf'ffxf  of  pursuing  its  spirit;  but  if,  in  the 
sincere  desire  to  ascertain  the  will  of  the  lawgiver,  you  discover  that 
it  would  be  violated  by  giving  a  literal  interpretation  to  the  words  he 
has  employed  to  express  it,  you  are  bound  to  give  those  words  a 
reasonable  interpretation,  rather  than  that  which  corrodes  the  text 
and  frustrates  in  truth  the  will  of  the  legislator." 

I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  precisely  at  what  period  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar.  ]jut  it  is  certain  that  he  engaged  in  practice  to 
a  considerable  extent,  became  extensively  known  as  a  sound  and  able 
lawyer,  and  one  of  the  most  distinguished  sons  of  North  Carolina. 
William  Gatson,  who  at  different  periods  of  his  life  was  remarkable 
for  his  elofpienee  as  a  member  of  Congress,  and  his  ability  and  learn- 
ing as  a  judg(!  of  the  Supremo  Court  of  that  State,  was  a  student  in 
his  office. 

During  the  earlier  part  of  his  career  as  a  lawyer,  he  prepared  and 
published  a  small  treatise  on  the  duties  of  sheritt's,  and  another  relat- 
ing to  the  duties  of  justices  of  the  peace,  and  a  third  upon  executors 
and  administrators.  These  works  were  useful  compilations  to  that 
class  of  public  officers.  They  were  prepared  by  him  partly  to  profit 
by  the  printing  of  them  himself,  but  principally  with  a  view  of  im- 
pressing more  deeply  on  his  own  mind  the  principles  and  rules  of 
those  branches  of  the  law.  It  was  indeed  his  favorite  mode  of  study, 
and  one  which  he  freijuontly  recommended  to  young  men  to  pursue. 

At  a  later  period,  lie  was  encouraged  by  the  legislature  of  North 
('arolina  to  prepare  a  compilation  of  the  British  statutes  which  were 
in  force  in  that  State  at  the  period  of  the  revolution.  It  was  a  work 
of  immense  labor  to  examine  critically  the  whole  body  of  ]>ritish 
statutory  law,  with  a  view  of  ascertaining  which  of  them  were  appli- 
eable  to  that  colony.  I  have  often  heard  him  express  his  surprise  at 
finding  how  very  few  acts  of  Parliament  existed  which  had  any  relation 
to  the  general  principles  of  the  English  law,  which  appear  to  have 
been  left  almost  exclusively  to  the  courts  of  justice.     3Iost  of  theni 


I : 


HON.  FRANCOIS  XAVIEH  MARTfN 


21 


related  to  nioro  fisral  rcgulitions,  and  tlioro  was  not  to  lio  foiiiul 
a  siiiitlc  cnactmont  wliicli  related  to  the  onler  of  deseeiit  and  tlio 
distribution  of  estates.  Tlio  whole  rested  upon  iinmeniorial  usage. 
We  ecrtainly  did  not  inherit  from  our  Knglish  ancestors  our  rage  for 
excessive  legislation. 

It  was  while  preparing  this  work  that  the  idea  occurred  to  him  of 
collecting  materials  for  the  history  of  North  Carolina,  which  wa.s  not, 
howcner,  published  until  ]'^'2~,  but  may  as  well  be  mentioned  in  this 
connection.  As  early  as  17!' I  his  attention  was  turned  to  that  t;i'b- 
ject  ;  but  having  been  employed  in  ISOo,  by  the  legislature  of  North 
Carolina,  tit  publish  a  revisal  of  the  acts  of  the  (.Jeneral  A.ssembly, 
passed  during  the  proprietary,  royal,  and  state  governments,  he  ac- 
quired in  carrying  out  the  views  of  the  legislature  such  information 
as  suggested  to  him  the  idea  of  collecting  more  ample  material  for 
such  a  history.  Having  been  afterwards  elected  a  member  of  the 
Uou.se  of  Commons,  as  the  representative  of  the  town  of  Newbern, 
he  had  aceess  to  the  records  of  the  State.  These  materials,  so  far  as 
they  related  to  tran.sactions  before  the  revolution,  he  had  already  ar- 
ranged before  he  came  to  Louisiana.  The  history  was  published  in 
New  Orleans,  in  two  volumes,  octavo.  It  relates  to  the  history  of  the 
Carolinas  before  the  revolution,  preceded  by  a  sketch  of  the  discfovery 
and  first  settlement  of  the  other  British  colonies  in  North  America. 
This  work  evinces  great  labor  and  research,  ft  appears  from  the  pre- 
face that  the  author  had  prepared  ample  notes  and  materials  for  a  con- 
tinuation of  his  history  through  the  war  of  the  revolution,  and  bring- 
intr  it  down  to  the  vear  ISIO,  when  he  left  North  Carolina.  IJut  the 
continuation  of  the  work  never  was  written  out. 

In  the  year  1S02,  Judge  Martin  gave  to  the  profession  the  first 
tran.slation  into  Knglish  of  the  treatise  of  Pothier  on  Obligations. 
Its  publication  preceded  by  about  four  years  the  appearance  of  that 
of  Evans,  in  England,  with  ample  and  useful  notes — and  its  circula- 
tion, thouirh  extensive  in  the  Tnited  States,  was  probably  curtailed 
by  that  circumstance.  While  the  publication  of  this  work  in  English 
wa.s  a  valuable  addition  to  the  library  of  the  American  bar,  as  it  em- 
bodies the  fjuintessenco  of  the  law  of  contracts  and  obligations  in 
general,  equally  authoritative  wherever  the  written  reason  of  the 
Roman  law  is  respected,  the  preparation  of  it  for  the  press  tended  to 
imprint  more  deeply  on  the  mind  of  the  tran.slator  the  principles  of 
that  branch  of  the  civil  law,  and  to  direct  his  attention  to  the  ori- 
ginal sources  from  which  they  flowed.  He  thus  became  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  that  great  work,  the  masterpiece  of  its  author — and 


In 


oo 


IIISTORICAfj  rOM-FX'TlONS  OK  LOUISIANA. 


SO  coiiipU'tcly  master  of  tho  sulijoct,  that  it  aiipoarotl  to  have  lu'comc 
a  ])art  »»f  ll\u  tcxtiirti  of  Iiis  own  iniiifl — ami  tn  tlio  last  ho  i'xliil)if(.'(l 
a  siirprisitifr  fainiliaiity  witli  tho  jiriiiciplfs  which  it  unfolds  with 
o(|ual  simplicity  ami  precision. 

It  was  tlius  that  Francois  Xavier  31arlin,  thrown  in  his  youth 
among  strangi-rs,  with  whose  languaj^e  lie  was  imperfectly  ac(|uainte(l, 
by  utiwcarieil  diligence  and  rigid  economy,  uniting  tho  ntudy  and 
practice  nf  the  law,  with  the  superintendence  of  a  printing  press,  not 
only  emerged  from  poverty  to  an  ca^y  co.mpctency,  but  became  the 
as.sociato  of  the  ablest  men  of  his  day  in  North  Candina,  a:id  ac- 
quired those  stores  of  knowledge,  both  of  the  civil  and  tho  common 
law,  wliich  prepared  him  for  eminence  and  usefulness  in  the  new  and 
more  extended  theatre  to  which  he  was  sonn  afterwards  callijd. 

Those  who  have  experienced  in  themselves  that  sinking  of  the  hearty 
that  utter  solitude  of  soul,  which  is  pnxlueed  by  being  cast  in  youth, 
destitute  and  anumg  strangers,  without  a  profession — far  from  the  en- 
dearments of  home — without  experience — without  a  guide — without 
a  patron — chilled  by  the  cold  indifference  of  the  .surrounding  crowd 
— even  although  tiio.se  among  whom  he  is  tlirown  may  be  connected 
with  him  by  the  sympathies  of  a  common  language  and  a  kindred 
origin,  may  f;  rm  some  conception  of  that  firmness  of  purpose,  that 
energy  of  character,  which  enabled  the  subji'ct  of  this  notice,  under 
circumstances  .still  more  di.scouraging,  to  triuuiph  ov  r  "  the  slings 
and  arrows  of  outrageous  fortune." 

So  favorably  was  Mr.  Jlartin  known  at  that  time  to  the  ])ublic, 
that  as  early  as  the  winter  of  ISO*,),  towards  the  close  of  3Ir.  Jefler- 
son's  administration,  he  was  designated  as  a  proper  person  to  be  ap- 
pointed one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Superior  Court  of  the  Territory  of 
3Iississippi.  His  commis.sion  was  issued  under  the  signature  of  Mr. 
Madison,  on  the  7th  of  March,  1S09,  three  days  after  his  inaugura- 
tion as  President  of  the  United  States.  He  continued  but  a  short 
time  in  that  Territory,  and  on  the  death  of  Judge  Thompson  he  was 
commissioned  on  the  21st  of  3Iarch,  1810,  a  Judge  of  tho  Superior 
Court  of  the  Territory  of  Orleans,  and  shortly  afterwards  entered 
upon  the  duties  of  tiiat  office  in  this  city. 

liefore  I  proceed  to  detail  the  labors  of  the  deceased  in  Louisiana,  let 
us  pause  for  a  few  moments  and  consider  the  condition  of  things  here 
at  that  time,  and  especially  the  state  of  our  Jurisprudence. 

Seven  years  before  the  period  of  which  I  am  speaking,  Louisiana 
was  a  Spanish  Province ;  governed  liy  a  system  of  laws  written  in  a 
language  understood  by  only  a  snuill  part  of  the  population,  and  which 


nON.  FRANrOIH  XAVIEll  MAUTIN. 


28 


I 


had  Itcon  forced  ujum  llic  pcnjilo  iit  flic  |i(>iiit  of  tlii>  iKiyoiicf  liy 
(►'Ilrillv,  and  wliicli  stiiicrscdcd  llic  iiiiciciif  l-'rciicli  laws  by  wliicli  tlic 
I'mviiicc  had  liccii  ]>rcvii»usly  L'nvcriicd.  riion  t\u>  (■li;itiL''c  of  (iovcni- 
iiicrit,  flic  writ  of  lialicas  corjius,  that,  jjrrcaf  Imlwark  of  jjcrsoiial 
lihcrty.  had  hccri  iiitrodiicc(|,  toL'cthcr  with  the  system  of  j)roc(>('dini:s 
in  eriiuiiial  onsen,  and  the  trial  hy  .liiry,  iiccnrdini^  to  the  ]irinci]iles  of 
the  ('oiiiMioii  I, aw.  In  1S()S  was  i)r()inul;^ated  fh(!  Digest  of  the  Civil 
liaws,  then  in  force  in  Louisiana,  eoniiiioiily  called  ti.e  Old  Code. 
'I'hat  '•oiiipilafion  was  little  more  than  a  mutilated  copy  of  the  Code 
Naiioleoii.  But  instead  of  ahrogaling  all  previous  laws,  and  creiiting 
an  entire  system,  as  had  heen  done  in  I'raiice  hy  the  Coile  Napoleon, 
superseding  the  discordant  customs,  ordinances  ami  laws  in  the  dilfer- 
cnt  departments,  our  code  was  considered  as  a  declaratory  law,  repeal- 
ing suih  only  as  were  repugnant  to  if,  and  leaving  partially  in  force 
the  voluminous  codes  of  Spain.  Tin;  Siijicrior  Court  had  already 
been  organized  for  .som«!  years,  and  was  composed  of  three  tJudgcs, 
any  one  of  whom  formed  a  (/ii'inan:  and  as  the  several  Judges  then 
sat  separately  in  th(;  dilferent  Districts,  each  could  pronounce  a  judg- 
ment in  the  last  resort.  I'licrc  was  no  means  of  estahlishing  uni- 
formity of  decision:  no  publicity  had  hccn  given  to  the  decisions, 
and  the  public  wa.s  without  any  guarantee  for  their  uniformity.  The 
law  was  wholly  unsettled,  and  in  a  state  of  chaos.  The  (^ourt  of  Cas- 
sation in  Franco  had  begun,  it  is  true,  to  fix  the  interpretation  of  their 
Code,  but  the  rules  applicable  to  ours  were  obviously  dilferent  in 
n)auy  respects,  in  consc<(U(Mic<!  of  the  manifest  difference  in  their 
creating  and  repealing  clauses.  It  bccanu!  necessary  to  study  and 
compare  the  French  and  the  Spanish  (Aides,  and  although  the  lioman 
Law  never  had,^)ro^>r<''>  lu'i/orr,  any  binding  force  here,  yet  in  doubtful 
cases,  or  in  cases  in  which  the  positive  law  was  ;:ileiit,  it  might  well 
be  consulted  as  the  best  revelation  of  the  principles  of  eternal  justice, 
and,  as  it  were,  an  anticipated  commentary  upon  the  ('ode. 

Judge  Martin  felt  at  once  the  difficulty  of  the  task  before  him,  and 
he  determined  to  commence  without  delay  the  publication  of  Jleports 
of  cases  decided  by  the  Superior  ('ourt.  }lc  was  induced  to  under- 
take that  labor  for  the  double  purpose  of  giving  publicity  to  the  deci- 
sions of  the  Court,  in  the  nature  of  a  mmptt!  rendu  to  the  people, 
and.  thus  guarding  against  misrepresentations  or  misapprehensions, 
and  to  insure  to  a  certain  extent  uniformity  of  decision.  The  first 
volume  app(,'ared  in  the  spring  of  181 1,  and  a  second  in  18115,  bring- 
ing down  the  decisions  of  the  (.'ourt  from  180I.I  to  the  establishment 
of  the  State  (lovcrnment. 


'il 


24 


msTOIllCAl,  COI.rKfTloNS  OF  LOUISIANA 


At  Hint  jH'ri<iil,  a  Sii]ir('iiii'  Cnurt  was  civatrd,  liavii.jr  appt'llatt 
jurisdictiini  only.  That  ('(iiirt  was  at  lirst  (•(iinpnscd  of  .liul^^cs  Hull, 
31altlii'ws  and  I)tiliij:;ii}',  and  JiidLri'  .Martin  was  apiHiintt'd  tho  first 
Attorncy-tionoral  of  tliu  State,  on  tii.'  ilMli  of  Fcbrnary,  isl:;.  ||i. 
waH  iin  ablo  ti-iniinal  lawyiT;  and  altliougli  it  lias  bcvn  said  lit-  was 
not  ('lo(HU'nt,  yet  lie  is  adinittrd  to  liiivc  discl-.arjrcd  tlu;  duties  of  that 
oflicc  with  zeal  and  ability.  After  the  resi^'iialinn  of  Hall,  he  was 
appointed  a  Ind^^e  of  the  Supremo  Court  on  the  fnst  of  February, 
ISIT).  From  that  period  lie  continued  in  oiliue  until  the  iSth  of 
March,  lS4ti — a  period  of  more  than  thirty-one  years.  He  ontere<l 
on  his  eighty-fifth  year  on  the  very  day  he  was  superseded  by  the 
appiiintnieiils  under  the  new  constitution. 

The  time  at  which  .ludi^e  Martin  was  appointed  to  the  Su])rome 
Court,  will  ever  form  a  memorable  epoch  in  the  history  of  Louisianu. 
A  powerful  invading  army  menaced  the  Capital :  the  citizens  were  in 
arms  :  .^Iartial  law  had  been  proclaimed  by  tlu;  (leneral  in  command, 
and  by  an  act  of  tin-  liCtrislature  passed  on  tho  l^th  of  necembcr 
previous,  all  judicial  i)roceedings  in  civil  ca.'^es  wore  suspended  until 
tho  first  of  May  :  no  business  was  transactod  at  tho  January  and  Feb- 
ruary terms  of  the  Court.  In  the  mean  time,  tho  enemy  had  boon 
ropul.sod  and  peace  restored.  OfVieial  information,  however,  had  not 
yet  reached  here  of  the  treaty  of  (ihent,  and  when  the  Court  met 
early  in  March,  martial  law  was  still  in  force.  A  motion  was  then 
made  that  th  Court  should  proceed  to  tho  trial  of  a  particular  case 
tiien  pending.  This  motion  was  resisted  on  two  grounds  :  first,  that 
the  city  and  its  environs  were,  by  general  orders  of  the  officer  com- 
manding the  3Filitary  District,  put,  on  the  ITitli  of  December  previous, 
under  strirf  Mtirtlal  Lair  ;  and  secondly,  that  by  the  third  .sectitm  of 
an  act  of  Assembly,  approved  on  the  18th  of  December,  all  proceed- 
ings in  any  civil  case  wore  suspended. 

It  was  upon  this  occasion  that  .Judge  3Iartin  pronounced  bis  first 
opinion  as  a  .fudge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  the  judgment  of  that 
('ourt  upon  these  two  important  questions  of  Constitutional  Law.  In 
answer  to  the  bold  and  novel  assertion  that  by  the  proclamation  of 
martial  law  the  officer  who  issued  it  had  conferred  upon  him.self, 
over  all  his  fellow-citizens  within  the  space  he  had  described,  a  su- 
premo and  unlimited  authority,  which  being  incompatible  with  the 
exercise  of  the  functions  of  Civil  iMagistrates,  necessarily  suspends 
them,  ho  declared  that  tho  exercise  of  an  authority  vested  by  law  in 
that  Court  could  not  be  suspended  hj/  aiii/  man.  lie  then  went  into 
the  question  as  to  the  power  of  the  Kxecutivo,  or  any  subordinate 


iniN.  FRANCOIS  XAVIKIl  MARTIN. 


26 


\ 


, 


uoting  »ui(I«'r  liif  luitlidrify,  ti)  susjhihI  tlu;  n'^rular  nja-ration  of  the 
laws,  :iii<l  tlu;  writ  of  liulnas  cnrpu.-* ;  ami  lie  (K'untii.stratetl  liy  uniin- 
HWcraliK'  urj:inmiits,  ami  l»y  tlio  lii;;li('.Ht  autliniity  lioth  in  tlie  I'liitoil 
Stati'S  aiiil  ii)  I'lii^rliiml,  tliaf  it  I'aii  niily  In;  (luiic  \i\  l,(  j.'i>I;itiv*'  aiitln)- 
I'ity.  III!  .slinwt'd  that  in  l]ii;:laii(l,  martial  law  fuiiM  not  Ik>  ihclaivd 
to  till'  cxti'Mt  cniitcmJcd  for  but  hy  the  authmity  (if  Parliament,  ami 
that  rvt  II  (luring  tho  inva.siuii  of  tho  Prctenihr,  tlic  Cruwii  did  m)t 
assnm(,'  tiiat  p(i\V(,'r,  but  referred  it  ti»  the  deei^iun  nf  rarliament. 
The  .>-eeiiM<l  imiut  involved  also  an  iin|i  irlani  i|iu>liiin  nf  enustitiitionul 
law,  and  the  ajuilieation  of  that  elaiise  in  the  ('(institution  of  the 
rnite(l  States,  whieh  prohibits  the  State  licirislatin-es  from  passing 
any  law  impairing  tho  obligation  of  eontraets.  I'pon  (his  part  of 
the  ease,  he  argued  that  the  obligation  of  tin  contract  n  i'lTreil  to  m 
tho  ('onstituti(jn  consisted  in  the  necessity  every  man  is  under,  in  fori* 
I'l/i",  to  do  or  not  to  do  a  ]i'irtieular  thing  :  that  tlu;  Constitution  spoke 
of  the  /'■'/(//  obligation  rather  than  the  timidf,  and  that  any  law  as- 
wuming  to  interfere  between  the  debtor  and  tho  creditor,  and  abso- 
lutely recalling  tho  power  which  the  creditor  (  njoys  of  compelling  his 
debtor,  In  Joro  liijiK,Ut  perform  his  contract,  would  bo  a  law  impairing 
Its  obligation  :  and  that  a  law  destroying  or  impairing  the  rim>tli( 
is  as  unconstitutional  as  one  all'eeting  the  riijlit  in  tho  same  manner. 
llo  g(ws  on  to  show  that  a  law  procrastinating  tho  creditor  in  his 
remedy,  generally  speaking,  destroys  a  part  of  the  riglit,  on  the  j>rin- 
plo  that  ho  who  pays  later  pays  less — mimus  anfrit  ijiir  stn'ii.-i  sn/n't 
IJut  he  continues:  "It  does  not  necessarily  follow  that  an  act  calle('. 
for  by  other  circumstances  than  the  apj>arent  necessity  of  relieving 
debtors,  one  of  tho  consequences  of  which  is  nevertheless  to  work 
some  delay  in  the  j)rosccution  of  suits,  and  conse(|uently  to  retard 
the  recovery  and  payment  of  debts,  must  always  bo  declared  uncon- 
stitutional. In  making  a  contract,  each  })arty  must  know  that  hi'* 
legal  remedy  uiusjt  depend  on  tho  laws  of  the  country  in  whieh  he 
may  institute  his  suit.  That  the  /ex  loci  as  to  his  remedy,  even  in 
the  States  that  compose  the  Federal  Union,  is  susceptible  oijiin'dicat 
improi-i'mcnt.  That  the  number  of  Courts  of  original  and  appellate 
jurisdiction,  the  nature  and  extent  of  tho  respective  jurisdiction  of 
these,  the  number,  time  and  duration  of  their  sessions,  must  from  time 
to  time,  especially  in  now  and  growing  settlements,  be  regulated  bj- 
the  Legislature,  according  to  the  wants  and  exigencies  of  the  coun- 
try." lie  adds  that  in  times  of  war,  domestic  commotion  or  opidcmy, 
circumstances  may  imperiously  demand  for  a  while  oven  a  total  sus- 
pension of  judicial  proceedings  :  that  under  such  circuxustanceS;  tho 


I 


i 


it 

III! 


2G 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


Courts  might  of  their  own  authority  be  justified  in  adjourning,  and 
that  the  Legislature  might  well  declare  the  necessity  of  such  an  ad- 
journment, and,  with  a  view  to  that  order  and  regularity  which  uni- 
formity produces,  fix  a  day  on  which  judicial  business  might  be 
resumed,  without  impairing  the  obligation  of  contracts.  The  act  of 
the  Legislature  was  therefore  declared  to  be  of  binding  force. 

These  two  great  principles,  that  the  habeas  corpus  cannot  be  con- 
stitutionally suspended  by  any  Executive  or  IMilitary  authority,  and 
that  the  Legislative  power  is  itself  incapable  of  impairing  the  obliga- 
tion of  private  contracts,  form  the  very  basis  of  constitutional  free- 
dom in  a  government  of  laws.  Without  the  first  there  would  be  no 
guard  against  arbitrary  imprisonment — no  safety  for  pci  iiial  liberty; 
and  without  the  second,  private  rights  would  be  at  the  mercy  of  arbi- 
trary legislation.  The  Courts,  governed  by  the  Constitution  as  the 
supreme  and  paramount  law,  are  guardians  of  both. 

The  elaborate  treatises  and  numerous  adjudged  cases  published 
since  that  day  have  thrown  but  little  additional  light  upon  that  part 
of  Constitutional  Law.  These  principles  have  been,  it  is  believed, 
uniformly  recognized  as  sound,  and  especially  by  very  recent  decisions 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States.  Indeed,  it  may  be  as- 
serted without  hesitation  that  Judge  JIartin  was  an  able  constitutional 
lawyer,  well  acquainted  with  the  complex  machinery  of  our  American 
<rOvcrnments.  It  is  a  branch  of  public  law,  with  which  the  Jurists 
of  England  and  of  the  Continent  are  very  imperfectly  acquainted, 
because  it  is  here  alone  that  a  great  central  power  exists,  round  which 
numerous  co-ordinate,  though  limited  sovereignties,  revolve,  in  well  de- 
fined orbits,  and  their  centrifugal  tendencies  are  controlled  and  coun- 
teracted by  the  insensible  attraction  of  the  great  centre ;  and  where 
the  Judicial  tribunals  are  invested  with  the  power  of  pronouncing,  in 
all  cases  assuming  a  Judicial  form,  upon  the  validity  of  acts  of  ordi- 
nary legislation  emanating  from  either,  and  thus  maintaining  the  har- 
mony and  regularity  of  the  whole  system. 

And  here  let  me  remark,  once  for  all,  that  Judge  Martin  exhibited 
on  that  occasion,  as  well  as  every  other,  during  his  long  Judicial 
career,  the  highest  degree  of  moral  courage  and  firmness  of  purpose. 
Nothing  could  deter  him  from  the  fearless  expression  of  his  opinion, 
without  the  slightest  regard  to  persons.  To  him,  it  was  quite  imma- 
terial v,\o  the  parties  were ;  as  much  so  as  it  is  to  the  Geometrician 
by  v,'l)at  letters  may  happen  to  be  designated  the  angle  he  is  about  to 
measure. 

The  first  opinion  pronounced  by  him  affords  also  a  fair  sample  of 


HON.  FRANCOIS  XAVIER  MARTIN. 


27 


hiii  style  as  a  •writer.  It  is  true  bis  style  underwent  a  great  change 
at  a  more  advanced  period  of  life — but  at  tbo  time  I  am  spoiikiiig  of, 
it  was  plain  and  strong,  and  free  from  ambiguity,  and  much  more 
copious  than  in  after  life.  He  came  at  last  to  pride  himself  upon  the 
terseness  of  his  style  and  his  great  brevity,  and  often  repeated  the 
injunction  of  the  poet: 

"  Sorpe  stylum  vortas,  iterum  qii;r  digna  Icgi  sitit 
Serijnurus ;" 

though  he  sometimes  appears  to  have  forgotten  another  caution  of 
the  same  author : 

"  Brevis  esso  laboro,  obscurus  fio." 

Judge  Martin  did  not  lose  by  removing  to  Louisiana  his  fondness 
for  book-making.  Besides  other  publications  which  T  shall  have  oc- 
casion to  mention,  he  published  in  181G  his  Digest  of  the  Territorial 
and  State  Statutes  up  to  that  time,  called  "  ^Martin's  Digest,"  in  two 
volumes,  in  French  and  English.  This  work  was  undertaken  under 
a  resolution  of  the  General  Assembly.  It  is  mentioned  mainly  to 
show  with  what  iu'lefatigable  industry  he  pursued  his  labors,  besides 
those  of  the  Bench,  and  his  constant  devotion  to  studies  connected 
with  his  profession.  Ilis  Digest  was  in  constant  u.se  by  the  profes- 
8ion  for  many  years. 

He  continued  to  publish  his  Reports  of  the  Decisions  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  until  1830,  and,  including  the  two  small  volmnes  con- 
taining the  Decisions  of  the  Superior  Court,  already  mentioned,  he- 
produced  twenty  volumes,  embracing  the  entire  period  from  ISO*)  to 
1880.  During  nearly  all  that  time  from  1810  he  was  one  of  the 
Judges,  and  performed  his  full  share  of  the  labor  of  the  Court.  The 
opinions  prepared  by  him  exhibit  evidences  of  deep  learning  and  ex- 
tensive research,  while  at  the  same  time  he  superintended  himself 
the  printing  and  publication  of  his  Reports. 

But  what  is  most  surprising  is  that,  while  thus  engaged  in  groping 
his  way  with  his  colleagues  through  the  labyrinth  of  our  earlier  law, 
often  bewildered  by  the  cross-lights  of  conflicting  codes  and  discordant 
commentators — while  thus  assiduously  employed,  and  doing  his  full 
share  in  reducing  it  to  something  like  a  regular  system — he  should 
have  found  time  to  collect,  from  various  sources,  both  puljlie  and  pri- 
vate, very  ample  materials  for  a  History  of  Louisiana.  His  History 
was  put  to  press  in  18"27,  and  narrates  the  principal  events  iu  the 
Province,  Territory  and  State,  from  its  first  settlement  down  to  the 
Treaty  of  Ghent.    It  contains  many  curious  and  interesting  statistical 


28 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


I     II 


i  ^ 


tables,  showing  the  comparative  state  of  coniiiicrce,  agriculture,  and 
population,  at  ditl'eront  periods.  Its  pages  exhibit  to  the  young 
Jjoui.siauiati,  to  u.«e  the  language  of  the  author  in  his  preface,  his  re- 
mote progenitors — a  handful  of  men,  left  on  the  sandy  shore  of  Biloxi, 
hara.s.sed  during  the  day  by  the  inroads,  disturbed  at  night  by  the 
yells,  of  hostile  Indians — the  incipient  state  of  civil  government  un- 
der the  authority  of  the  Crown — the  tardy  progress  of  agriculture 
and  trade  under  the  monopolies  of  Crozat  and  the  Western  Company 
— the  massacre  of  the  French  among  the  Natchez — the  destruction 
of  that  nation  and  the  subsequent  war  with  the  Chickasaws — the 
slow  advances  of  the  Colony  after  the  ('rown  resumed  its  government 
— the  cession  to  Spain,  and  the  languishing  state  of  his  country  while 
a  Colony  of  that  Kingdom — and  may  afterwards  behold  the  dawn  of 
liberty  on  his  natal  soil  under  the  Territorial  Government  of  the 
United  States,  and  finally  the  rise  of  Louisiana  to  the  rank  of  a  sove- 
reign State.  The  subject  is  one  full  of  romantic  interest,  and  though 
not  treated  by  our  author  in  the  most  attractive  form,  yet  the  work  is 
always  referred  to  with  entire  confidence  in  the  historical  accuracy  of 
its  statements,  and  of  the  events  which  it  records.  It  is  a  faithful 
repository  of  materials  for  a  more  extended  and  elaborate  history. 
It  is,  however,  upon  the  juridical  labors  of  Judge  3Iartin  that  his 
fame  must  hereafter  rest.  lie  became,  at  tlie  same  time,  so  exten- 
sively and  favorably  known  as  a  jurist  and  a  scholar,  that  he  was 
elected  in  1817,  a  member  of  the  Academy  of  Marseilles,  his  native 
place.  Some  years  afterwards  the  University  of  Nashville,  in  Ten- 
nessee, conferred  on  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws ;  and  in  1841, 
the  T'niversity  of  Cambridge,  the  oldest  College  in  North  America, 
honored  him  with  the  same  degree. 

It  is  manifestly  impossible  to  speak  of  tlic  judicial  labors  of  Judge 
Martin,  without  embracing  a  view  of  those  of  his  colleagues,  at  least 
as  low  down  as  1834,  when  Judge  Porter  retired.  It  was  during 
that  period  the  greatest  changes  took  place  in  our  positive  Legislation, 
and  in  the  development  of  our  Jurisprudence.  In  1825  the  Code 
was  amended,  and  among  the  amendments  were  embraced  many  of 
the  principles  already  settled  by  the  Supreme  Court.  About  the  same 
period,  the  Code  of  Practice  was  promulgated;  and  its  first  effect  was 
to  unsettle  the  practice,  and  to  give  rise  to  an  infinite  number  of  in- 
tricate and  difficult  questions ;  and  finally,  in  1828,  all  the  old  Civil 
Laws  of  the  country  were  abrogated.  From  that  period  the  Spanish 
Law  ceased  to  have  any  force  here,  and  it  was  no  longer  necessary 
to  recur  to  it  as  the  guide  of  decision,  except  in  the  few  cases  which 


HON,  FHAN'OOIS  XAVIKR  MARTIN. 


i:i» 


arose  before  tlmt  period.  Tlio  study  of  tlic  Spanish  law  wns  nn  longer 
prosecuted,  excopt  as  a  matter  of  curiosity,  and  the  adjudircd  cases. 
which  turned  upon  some  principle  or  exception  of  the  Spanish  law, 
could  not  always  be  safely  followed  under  the  new  lepslation  of  the 
State.  The  new  ('ode  introduced  n)any  important  moditieations,  par- 
ticularly relating  to  restrictions  upon  testamentary  dispositions — 
changing  the  rules  of  inheritance — providing  something  like  a  regular 
administration  of  estates,  and  in  other  respects  profiting  by  the  able 
commentaries  which  had  already  appeared  in  Franco  upon  the  Napo- 
leon Code.  The  system  was  much  more  complete,  though  not  en- 
tirely free  from  provisions — apparently  contradictory — but  it  was 
certainly  a  great  approximation  to  what  Lord  Bacon  in  one  of  his 
aphorisms  regards  as  the  best  law — that  which  leaves  the  least  room 
for  the  discretion  to  the  Judge. 

It  cannot  be  expected  that  I  should  enter  on  this  occasion  much  at 
large  on  the  labors  of  the  Court  during  the  period  1  have  mentioned. 
There  is,  however,  one  class  of  cases  depending  upon  that  branch  of 
international  Jurisprudence,  called  the  conflict  of  laws,  which  engaged 
its  attention  more  frequently  than  perhaps  any  other  Court  in  the 
United  States.  This  arose  from  our  peculiar  position.  This  great 
commercial  emporium,  having  relations  with  most  of  the  States  of 
the  Union,  and  most  of  the  nations  of  Europe,  which  arc  governed 
by  different  laws,  and  many  emigrants  being  married  abroad  and 
under  other  Rcfji.irs,  and  acquiring  property  here,  innumerable  ques- 
tions arose  touching  the  rights  of  the  parties,  and  the  construction  of 
contracts  executed  abroad,  or  entered  into  here,  to  have  their  effect 
elsewhere.  These  questions  were  often  perplexing,  and  it  is  generally 
conceded  that  the  decisions  of  that  Court  threw  great  light  upon  the 
subject,  and  satisfoctorily  solved  most  of  the  questions  thus  presented. 
Such  at  least  is  the  opinion  of  Judge  Story,  as  expressed  by  him  in 
perhaps  the  most  learned,  though  not  the  most  satisfactory  of  his  able 
Treatises  upon  different  branches  of  the  law — I  mean  his  Comment- 
arico  on  the  Conflict  of  Laws.  There  is  one  opinion,  however,  de- 
livered by  Judge  Martin,  upon  which  a  single  remark  may  not  be 
amiss — I  allude  to  the  case  of  Humphreys  &  Dupau.  The  question 
was  whether  a  promissory  note,  made  here  and  payable  in  New  York, 
bearing  a  rate  of  interest  not  permitted  by  the  laws  of  New  York, 
was  valid  or  usurious.  The  Judge  put  forth  on  that  occasion  all  his 
learning,  ingenuity,  and  even  subtlety,  to  show  that  the  validity  ot 
the  contract,  though  to  be  executed  in  New  York,  was  to  be  tested  by 
the  laws  of  Louisiana.     The  decision  did  not  escape  the  censure  of 


80 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


Judge  Story,  avIio,  in  liis  first  edition  of  his  Conflict  of  Lawf",  com- 
ments on  it  Honicwliat  iit  length,  and  endeavors  to  show  that  it  is 
erroneous  in  itself,  and  even  unsupported  by  the  authorities  cited  in 
support  of  it.  Judge  Martin  never  possessed  any  improper  obstinacy 
or  pride  of  opinion ;  on  the  contrary,  he  was  alwrys  open  to  convic- 
tion, and  often  yielded  his  first  conclusions  to  the  force  of  argument 
and  authority.  But  on  that  occasion  he  was  tenacious  of  his  opinion 
— so  much  so  that  when  he  visited  the  North  some  years  afterwards, 
he  repaired  to  (Cambridge  for  the  purpose  principally  of  discussing 
with  his  critic  the  doctrines  maintained  by  him  in  the  case  above  al- 
luded to.  He  thought  lie  had  on  the  way  enlisted  Chancellor  Kent 
as  an  ally  in  the  controversy;  whether  it  was  so  is  questionable.  He, 
however,  repaired  to  Cambridge,  and  a  long  discussion  ensued.  As 
usual  among  lawyers,  each  maintained  his  ground,  and  each  was  con- 
firmed in  his  opinion  by  his  own  arguments.  In  the  next  edition  of 
the  Conflict  of  Laws,  the  learned  author  returns  to  the  charge,  and 
combats,  at  much  greater  length,  the  soundness  of  that  decision. 
Tinder  such  circumstances,  it  may  well  be  doubted,  to  say  the  least 
of  it,  but  it  will  depend  on  others  whether  it  shall  be  ultimately 
overruled. 

"  Non  nostrum  est  tantas  compoiiere  lites."' 

Not  only  was  Judge  Martin  aided  in  moulding  into  form  and  sym- 
metry our  system  of  Jurisprudence,  by  the  quick  perception  of  what 
is  just,  and  the  instinctive  sense  of  equity  of  Mathews,  and  the  more 
ardent  industry  and  extensive  research  and  erudition  of  Porter,  and 
previously  by  the  unpretending  but  extensive  learning  of  Dcrbigny, 
but  the  period  between  the  organization  of  the  Territorial  Govern- 
ment and  the  repeal  of  the  Spanish  Law  was  the  classical  age  of  the 
Bar  of  Louisiana.  The  Court  was  assisted  in  its  researches,  and  en- 
lightened in  its  path,  by  the  various  learning  and  elegant  scholarship, 
and  profound  knowledge  of  diff"ercnt  systems  of  Jurisprudence  of 
Livingston  and  Brown,  Workman  and  Moreau  Lisbet,  and  Duncan, 
and  numerous  others.  It  does  not  become  me  to  speak  of  the  sur- 
vivors of  that  distinguished  corps.  They  form  the  living  and  bril- 
liant link  which  connects  that  generation  of  lawyers  with  the  present. 
It  was  then  the  source  of  the  Eoman,  Spanish,  and  French  laws 
were  extensively  explored,  and  a  taste  for  comparative  Jiirisjirvdcnrr 
was  created  for  the  first  time  in  the  United  States.  The  principles 
of  the  common,  the  customary,  and  the  lloman  laws  were  invoked 
together,  and  placed  in  juxtaposition.      The  illustrious  writers  on 


l 


I 


HON.  FRANCOIS  XAVIER  MARTIN. 


81 


Jurispruilonce  of  the  IGtli  century  in  France,  Spain,  Italy,  and  Ger- 
many wore  consulted  and  compared.  The  most  anti(juated  of  the 
Gothic  Codes  were  studied,  not  a.s  monuments  of  literary  curiosity, 
but  as  fragments  of  preexisting  systems  of  human  laws,  originating 
cither  with  the  Romans  or  their  barbarian  con(|uerors.  The  whole  of 
these  various  and  often  discordant  materials  were  fused  into  one  mass, 
and  the  Court  left  to  select  such  principles  as  appeared  most  consonant 
with  the  general  scope  and  enactments  of  the  Code.s.  Whoever  has 
read  the  first  twenty-five  volumes  of  our  llcports  cannot  fail  to  have 
observed  what  vast  stores  of  legal  erudition  were  brought  to  light  in 
the  discussion  of  leading  cases,  and  how  much  the  r.'>ngo  has  been 
narrowed  since  our  jurisprudence  has  become  better  settled,  under  the 
more  full  and  explicit  text  of  the  new  Code. 

It  is  thus  we  have  witnessed  the  formation,  even  its  process  of 
crystallization,  as  it  were,  of  the  existing  Jurisprudence  of  liouisiana.* 

*  The  juri^pruiloncc  of  Louisiana  is  a  Tiiixturo  of  tlic  Roman,  Fren(?li,  and 
Spanisli  law,  linctureil  with  no  inconsiderable  portion  of  the  tominon  law  of 
England,  as  understood  and  expounded  in  tho  sister  States  of  tlic  Union,  espe- 
cially in  criminal  and  commercial  matters.  These  dilferent  elements  of  !aw 
are,  however,  bleiulcd  in  so  confused  a  manner,  that  it  is  often  extremely  difTicult 
to  trace  the  lines  of  demarcation,  or  to  determine  what  the  law  is  on  any  given 
subject. 

When  the  province  of  Louisiana  was  transferred  to  the  United  States,  the 
colonial  laws  of  S|>ain  did,  at  least  to  a  certain  extent,  fiuvera  the  country,  al- 
though in  point  of  fact,  beyond  the  precincts  of  the  capital,  the  military  posts 
scattered  far  apart  over  its  immense  territory,  and  the  settlements  contiguous  to 
and  dependent  on  them,  there  were  neither  judges,  nor  any  regular  adminis- 
tration of  justice. 

The  indolent,  arbitrary,  and  yet  paternal  government  of  Spain  felt  really  lit- 
tle interest  in  the  prosperity  of  the  colony,  from  which  it  derived  no  revenue, 
and  which  it  had  aetjuired  and  preserved,  rather  with  a  view  of  debarring  all 
foreign  access  to  New  Spain,  than  from  any  desire  of  enriching  itself  by  the 
productions  of  the  soil,  or  to  profit  by  the  exhanstlcss  resources  of  the  country, 
which  the  industry  and  enterprise  of  its  present  possessors  have  so  successfully 
explored.  Spain,  nevertheless,  with  its  habitual  love  of  display,  had  established 
a  colonial  government,  surrounded  with  the  insignia  of  royalty,  and  having  an 
administrative  hierarchy  dependent  on  it,  which,  though  of  little  practical  utility, 
and  attended  with  much  useless  expense,  still  gave  to  the  whole  a  semblance  of 
power  and  regularity,  which  was  suflicient,  inuler  i)rdinary  circunisiauees,  to  in- 
spire respect  on  the  part  of  the  colonists. 

When  the  United  States  had  acquired  possession  of  Louisiana,  this  tbrm  of 
government  necessarily  disappeared,  and  the  new  one  introduced  was  framed 
with  the  simplicity  and  economy  suited  to  republican  habits  and  institutions. 

Changes  in  the  legislation,  as  well  as  in  the  administration  of  the  laws  of 
the  couiitry,  became  of  course  indispensable ;  but  they  were  made  with  great 


II 


32 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


Its  ingredients  arc  derived  from  various  sources,  and  after  being  fil- 
tered tbrough  numerous  codes,  meet  in  one  harmonious  mass.     Tlie 

caution,  mul  cure  was  taken  ricitlicr  to  shock  received  opinions,  nor  to  clian^^e 
abruptly  institutions  wliicli  liud  tlio  sanction  of  long  usage,  and  to  wliich  the 
inliabitants  had  buconie  attached.  Notwithstanding  all  these  precautions, 
mnrmiirs  and  discontents  were  oAen  heard  shortly  after  the  cession  of  the 
colony,  which  the  firm  and  conciliating  conduct  of  Congress  and  of  Mr.  Jelferson 
soon  succeeded  in  appeasing,  and  which  a  few  years  of  increasing  prosperity 
wholly  ediiced. 

In  the  meantime,  tlie  territory  Oi  Orleans  was  severed  from  tlio  rest  of  the 
ancient  French  colony  of  Louisiana,  and  erected  into  a  distinct  portion  of  the 
Union,  the  execntivo  department  of  which  was  under  the  direction  of  a  governor, 
the  legislative  in  the  hands  of  a  council,  and  the  judiciary  under  the  direction  of 
three  judges,  elected  every  four  years,  and  certain  inferior  magistrates. 

The  higliest  court  of  judicature,  called  the  Superior  Court  of  the  territory  of 
Orleans,  was  composed  of  three  judges,  of  which  one  constituted  a  quorum, 
and  was  invested  with  original  and  ai)pellatc  jurisdiction  in  criminal  and  civil 
cntises. 

The  criminal  law,  which  had  governed  Louisiana  prior  to  its  transfer,  was 
entirely  abolished,  and  in  its  place  were  substituted  certain  penal  statutes  pro- 
viding for  the  pimishment  of  olfences,  which  they  did  not  define,  but  left  the 
definitions  to  be  sought  for  at  common  law,  in  reference  to  which  all  future 
criminal  proceedings  were  to  be  conducted. 

Civil  suits  wore  brought  by  petition,  and  the  practice  was  simple. 

In  relation  to  the  civil  jurisprudence  of  the  country,  the  necessity  was  imme- 
diately felt  of  reducing  it  to  some  sort  of  order,  to  enable  those  who  had  been 
appointed  to  govern,  as  well  as  to  judge,  to  know  what  it  was,  a  fact  of  which, 
at  the  time  of  their  appointment,  they  were  profoundly  ignorant.  Tlie  legis- 
lative council,  having  made  a  vain  attempt  to  ^^ procure  a  civil  and  criminal  code 
for  the  "  territory,"  to  use  the  language  of  Judge  Martin,  ihe  first  territorial 
legislature  appointed,  in  the  year  180G,  Messrs.  James  Brown  and  Moreau  Lis- 
let,  two  members  of  the  bar,  to  prepare  a  digest  of  the  laws  in  force  in  the  ter- 
ritory. These  gentlemen,  having  finished  the  task  imposed  on  them  in  1808, 
reported  "  a  Digest  of  the  civil  laws  now  in  force  in  the  Territory  of  Orleans, 
with  alterations  and  ainendments,  adapted  to  the  present  form  of  government,"' 
which  was  adopted  by  the  Legislature,  and  constitutes  what  is  at  present  called 
the  old  Civil  Code. 

The  gentlemen  thus  appointed  to  prepare  a  digest  of  the  laws  in  force  in 
Louisiana,  instead  of  looking  to  the  Spanish  colonial  law,  and  consulting  exclu- 
sively the  Partidas  and  the  Rccopilacion  de  las  Indias,  &c.,  as  they  surely  would 
have  done  liatl  the  Spanish  law  alone  been  in  force,  transcribed  literally,  and 
incorporated  into  their  Digest  large  portions  of  dm  projet  of  the  Code  Napoleon. 
The  reasons  assigned  for  this  by  Judge  Martin  is,  that  no  copy  of  the  Code  Napo- 
leon, although  promulgated  in  1801,  had  as  yet  reached  New  Orleans.  The 
same  learned,  and  we  must  add,  accurate  writer,  in  all  which  concerns  cotern- 
poraneous  eveits,  speaks  of  this  conduct  on  the  part  of  the  compilers  of  the 
Digest  as  praiseworthy,  adding  that,  "although  the  project  is  necessarily  much 


•sSi- 


IIO.V.  FRANCOrS  XAVIER  MARTIN. 


on 


protection  of  wivos,  incautiously  cngiiged  for  the  contracts  of  their 
husliau'ls,  rests  upon  a  Konian  Sunatu.s  Consultum — their  uUiniiito 
rights  in  the  property  ac(|uired  (hiring  the  marriage,  upon  the  cus- 
toms of  the  erratic  trihes  that  overrun  (!aul,  and  were  carried  hy  tlio 
A'isigoths  iicross  tlie  Pyrenees.  Tlio  wi.sdom  of  Alplionso  is  found 
infu.sed  into  many  of  the  institutions  which  owe  their  origin  to  Al- 
fred the  Great.  The  common  law  has  paid  back  a  part  of  what  it 
had  borrowed  from  the  Eoman  Jurisprudence.  The  commercial  law, 
standing  out  almost  independently  of  the  ("ode,  rests  in  a  great  mea- 


rf 


more  itniH'rfeut  lliau  tlio  Code,  it  was  far  siiifcrior  to  ;iiiytliii)g  that  any  twn  iri- 
(liviiliials  couKl  liavc  jjroiliieud  eai'ly  c'noiif,'h  to  answer  the  exiieetatioiis  of 
tho.sf  wlio  eiiiploytMl  tlieiii." 

Jud^'o  Martin  Pay? — "The  Fvrm  Virjo,  Fiicrn  Ji(Zi;o,  Pcniidas.  liicnpilariones, 
Leyes  dv  las  Indimt,  Jlulos  Jliordados,  and  Royal  i^chodiiles  reniaiiieii  [)!irt  of  the 
written  Insv  of  the  territory,  when  not  rejicaled  expressly,  or  by  a  necessary 
impliciilion."     And  he  adds  : — 

"Of  these  musty  laws  the  eopies  were  extremely  rare;  a  complete  collection 
of  them  was  in  the  hands  of  no  one,  and  of  very  many  of  them  not  a  single 
copy  e.Kisted  in  the  ))rovinee.'' 

"  To  I'Xplain  them,  Spanish  commentators  were  considted,  and  the  Corpus 
Juris  CivHis,  and  its  own  commentiitors  were  resorted  to,  and  to  eke  out  any 
defieiency,  the  lawyers,  who  came  from  France  or  Hispaniola,  read  I'othicr 
D'Jliiucsscau,  Diinwuliii,''  &c. 

The  result  of  the  labors  of  Messrs.  Brown  and  ^loreaii  Lislet  was  a  Dijjest, 
containinji  tipwar<ls  of  5(J0  pages,  printed  in  English  and  French,  and  divided 
into  three  books,  of  which  the  first  tre;its  of  persons;  the  sccoiul  of  things  or 
estates;  and  the  third  of  the  ditrerent  manner  of  acquiring  the  properly  of 
things.  Each  book  Is  subdivided  into  titles,  and  each  title  into  chapters  and 
articles.  This  Uiue>t  is  the  groimdvvc)rk  of  the  Civil  Code  actually  in  I'orce  in 
Louisiana,  from  whirh  it  does  not  ililfer  very  essentially. 

Louisiana  having  become  a  State  in  1812,  organized  in  1813  a  Supremo  Court, 
conipos(?d  of  three  judges,  wliich,  in  conformity  vi'.'.i  th-*  2d  section  of  the  'Itli 
article  of  th(>  Constitution  of  the  State,  had  '■' appellate  jitrisdidion  only,  u-hiih 
Jurisdiction  shall  at  end  to  all  civil  cases,  ivhen  the  matter  in  dispute  shall  exceed  the 
sum  of  three  hundred  dollars.''  It  is  from  this  period  that  the  jurisprudence  of 
the  State  began  to  assume  some  definite  form,  and  to  extend  itself  so  as  to  em- 
brace the  numerous  controversies  which  soon  arose  among  an  intelligent,  com- 
mercial, iind  litigious  population. 

The  Supreme  Court  thus  liirmed  and  constituted,  had  most  arduous  and  dif- 
iicult  diiiics  to  periiirin — duties  which  re(juired,  besides  the  patience,  learnint; 
and  integrity  tilways  reriiiisito  to  discharge  the  functions  of  a  judge,  incessant  and 
laborious  researches  into  tlie  ancient  jurisprudence  of  Rome,  France  and  Spain, 
joined  to  a  thorough  knowledge  of  constitutiontil  law,  and  tm  intimate  acquaint- 
ance with  the  habits  and  wants  cf  the  jicople,  on  whom  the  decisions  were  to 
opertite. 


I  i 


34 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


f<ur('  upon  tlic  usages  of  commorcial  States,  Imt  more  osfiucially  of  the 
L'liited  States  an<l  (Jreat  I'ritriin,  but  Hli;:litly  moJilied  by  positive 
loeal  lejrisliitioii.  The  whole  body  of  our  law  thus  fonii.s  u  system, 
most  admired  by  those  who  understand  it  best,  and  who  ean  trace 
baek  its  principles  to  the  sources  from  which  tlioy  originally  flowed. 
Of  the  springdieads  of  our  law  it  may  be  said,  as  it  has  been  of  the 
waters  of  (.'astalia : 

"Thorp  sliallow  ilrnftri  intoxicate  tlie  brain, 
15iit  (Iriiiiiiiifi  (Icuply  solx-rs  us  n;.;a)n." 

If  I  might  be  allowed  to  enlarge  still  further  upon  this  interesting 
topic,  1  would  say  that  the  same  process  of  the  formations  of  laws  has 
been  going  on  in  all  ages,  and  in  every  region  within  the  range  of 
history.  (!oncjuesf:,  and  commerce,  and  the  migration  tmd  intermin- 
gling of  races  have  everywhere  brought  about  changes  of  laws.  The 
oracular  obscurities  of  the  twelve  tables  were  brought  by  the  Decem- 
virs from  Greece.  At  a  later  period,  the  same  laws,  developed  and 
improved,  were  disseminated  everywhere  by  the  victorious  legions  of 
the  llepublie.  They  became  mingled  with  local  usages,  which  were 
respected  by  the  con(iuerors.  The  migratory  Germanic  tribes  carried 
with  them  their  customs,  which  acquired  the  force  of  laws — and  hence 
many  of  the  different  customs  ii\n\/ueros  which  prevailed  in  France 
and  in  Spaii',  The  Norman  conquest  introduced  into  England  many 
of  the  customs  of  that  province,  and  the  law  itself  was  administered 
by  Normans  in  Norman  French.  Ilcnce  we  may  trace  to  the  cus- 
toms of  Normandy  the  widow's  third,  and  other  peculiarities  of  the 
English  Law.  The  Military  Feudality  of  the  middle  ages  upset  the 
whole  system  of  land  titles  and  tenures,  and  established  that  relation 
of  lord  and  vassal,  a  fruitful  source  of  innumerable  laws  and  customs. 
In  Home,  not  only  the  edicts  of  the  Prajtor  often  modified  the  exist- 
ing laws,  but  the  wildest  decrees  of  the  plebeian  order  were  respected, 
even  under  the  reign  of  the  Cnesars.  The  Saracen  conquest  of  Spain 
left  indelible  impressions  on  the  laws  and  institutions  of  the  peninsula, 
and  the  Alcalde  of  the  present  day  derives  his  name  from  and  exer- 
cises similar  functions  to  those  of  the  Cadis  of  Baydad.  Even 
among  ourselves,  local  usages,  and  the  usages  of  trade  are  referred  to 
in  order  to  aid  in  the  construction  of  local  contracts.  Law  is  not,  then, 
always  the  solemn  expression  of  Legislative  will.  The  whole  doctrine 
of  Bills  of  Exchange  originated  in,  and  is  based  upon,  the  customs 
of  merchants,  and  the  3Iaritimc  Law  upon  the  practice  of  States  and 
Towns  eniraiiod  in  naviii'atiou  and  trade.     The  customs   of  I'aris  be- 


HON'.  FRANCOIS  XAVIEIl  MARTIN. 


35 


I 


i  I 


caiDC  tho  law  of  Lonisinna  ]>y  the  chavtor  of  Crozat,  and  wore  s\vi'])t 
away  in  tlicir  turn  b}'  the  onliimnce  of  O'lkcilly.  Induod,  the  infer- 
nal liistnry  of  the  law — that  i.s  to  f^ay,  a  history  of  its  diflbront  elo- 
nicnts,  tracing  them  from  tlioir  origin  througli  the  siiccessivo  and  often 
insensible  modifications  to  their  anialpiniation  as  they  are  now  found, 
eonibined  and  harmonizing  together — such  an  analysis,  1  say,  consti- 
tuting the  choniistry  of  legal  science,  would  re(|uire  almost  endless 
research  and  labor.  The  same  process  of  fusion  and  din'usinn  is  still 
going  on  under  the  auspices  of  the  great  principle  of  the  enmity  of 
nations.  The  able  and  learned  works  upon  most  of  the  branches  of 
Jurisprudence  by  Story  and  Kent,  teml  to  demonstrate  to  what  ex- 
tent tlie  liomau  is  blended  with  the  common  law,  and  to  what  extent 
both  have  been  improved  by  the  mutual  infusion  of  {)rinciples. 
Whenever  the  municipal  law  has  not  expressly  provided  for  u  parti- 
cular ease,  a  principle  in  itself  reasonable  is  sometimes  adopted  from 
a  foreign  system  by  the  tribunals,  and  thus  becomes  at  last  an  element 
of  our  own  Jurisprudence.  The  whole  law  of  Evidence,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  elementary  principles,  is  borrowed  from  the  com- 
mon law.  The  practice  of  tho  Federal  tribunals,  professing  to  be 
governed  by  State  laws,  threatens  us  M'ith  alarming  innovations,  by 
introducing  among  us  tho  discretion  of  a  .Master  in  Chancery,  to  de- 
cide upon  important  interests,  and  by  their  forms  of  exccutiou 
menacing  tho  overthrow,  in  favor  ol  foreign  creditors,  of  our  equita- 
ble system  of  distribution  of  a  debtor's  eflFects,  and  making  his  pro- 
perty anything  but  the  common  pledge  of  his  creditors.  How  far 
such  innovations  can  be  tolerated  it  is  not  for  mo  to  say. 

1  have  entered  into  these  details  principally  with  a  view  of  enabling 
you  to  form  a  more  just  estimate  of  the  intricacy  of  the  subject,  and 
of  the  great  labor  and  research  required  by  the  Court  in  the  adminis- 
tration of  justice  under  laws  so  unsettled,  and  of  such  various  origin 
and  discordant  materials,  and  especially  to  fix  the  just  value  of  the 
services  of  Judge  Martin,  who  during  that  entire  period,  and  even  as 
late  as  184G,  continued  to  labor  with  unmitigated  zeal  and  industry, 
combining  all  the  learning  required  for  such  a  task  with  a  constant 
devotion  to  public  duties. 

lie  almost  always  enjoyed  a  vigorous  health,  maintained  by  great 
temperance  and  daily  exercise.  His  temperance  was  indeed  remark- 
able. Though  a  native  of  tho  country  of  the  vine,  he  never  had 
tasted  wine,  as  he  has  often  assured  me,  until  approaching  the  age  of 
sixty,  and  then  in  great  moderation,  and  never  in  hi.s  whole  life  had 
he  tasted  ardent  spirits  of  any  kind.     Being  a  bachelor,  he  was  un- 


^ 


:{(; 


mSTOUtCAL  f'OM,K(TI<t.N.s  (IF  LOlTsrANA. 


'li.stiirlied  by  doinoHtic  cares  and  dutioH.  All  tlio  pdwcrs  of  his  jnind 
v,-vrc  ddvoti'd  to  t\\r  law,  rather  as  a  profound  thinker  than  a  great 
reader,  lie  investi<fafeil  partieular  suhjccts  deeply,  rather  than  at- 
teniptinf^  to  keep  up  by  regular  reading  with  the  legal  erudition  of  the 
ilay.  He  rarely  iinlulged  even  in  a  momentary  flirtation  with  the 
Muses,  and  1  have  never  heard  him  speak  of  any  other  poets  than 
Virgil,  Floraoe,  and  IJoileau.  "With  works  of  imagination  his  ac- 
ipiaintanee  was  extremely  limited,  and  he  never  enjoyed  the  romantic 
literature  of  the  age,  though  eotemporary  with  Sir  Walter  Seott, 
and  the  great  writers  of  the  French  school.  The  law  had  no  such 
rival  in  his  affections,  and  all  the  rays  of  a  vigorous  intellect  were  con- 
verged to  one  focus.  He  enjoyed  at  the  same  time  a  constant  serenity 
of  mind,  and  posses.sed  an  equanimity  at  all  times,  and  under  all  cir- 
cumstances, most  romarkabl(!.  lie  was  never  (pierulous  nor  petulant, 
and  even  in  the  ardor  of  debate  in  consultation  with  his  colleagues 
he  possessed  the  most  perfect  self-control,  and  never  became  angry  or 
impatient.  It  was  perhaps  on  such  occasions  that  he  displayed  to  the 
greatest  advantage  all  the  vigor  and  acuteness  of  his  mind,  and  the 
resources  of  his  learning.  Those  who  have  contended  with  him  best 
know  how  expert  and  powerful  a  wrestler  he  was — and  yet  he  often 
detected  the  fallacy  of  his  own  reasoning,  and  convinced  himself  that 
he  had  been  originally  wrong.  His  great  peculiarity  was  in  pushing 
first  principles  to  their  most  remote;  ultimate  conscfjuenccs,  let  them 
end  where  they  might.  His  method  of  reasoning  was  sometimes  emi- 
nently Socratic,  and  it  was  necessary  in  discussions  with  him  to  bo 
extremely  cautious  how  you  admitted  his  premises.  If  you  answered 
unguardedly  a  series  of  questions  affirming  the  remote  principle  from 
which  he  started,  you  ran  the  risk  of  finding  yourself  involved  at  lust 
in  a  mesh  of  sophisms,  and  convicted  on  your  own  confessions.  It 
often  happened  that  he  would  return  the  next  day  after  a  protracted 
discussion,  and  say,  '*  Well,  I  have  consulted  my  pillow  on  that  ques- 
tion, and  after  all  I  believe  I  was  wrong." 

Judge  Martin  was  an  agreeable  companion.  His  conversation  was 
always  amusing  and  entertaining.  He  was  uniformly  calm  and  (juies- 
cent,  and  never  querulous  or  garrulous,  notwithstanding  his  very  ad- 
vanced age  and  its  increasing  infirmities.  He  was  sometimes  facetious, 
and  many  of  you  probably  remember  the  case  in  which  he  spoke  of 
the  violent  proceedings  of  a  mob,  to  tear  down  a  house  in  order  to 
get  rid  of  the  obnoxious  tenants,  as  the  service  of  the  frontio-  xcritof 
ejectment.  Never  disposed  to  be  censorious,  he  was,  when  the  occa- 
sion required  it,  inexorable  in  his  denunciation  of  the  fraudulent  con- 


I 


HON.  FRANCOIS  XAVIKR  MAUTFN.  •.( 

«lnct  of  piirtii's  liti^iiiiit  k'fure  tlic  Court,  t'Xj>o.«iiii^  their  turpitiuli"  to 
jmldif  iiiisiirc  with  an  unsiiariiig  Mcvority.  This  he  couhl  <hi  with 
groat  propriety  and  consistency,  for  he  felt  the  full  foret;  of,  and  him- 
self act('(l  up  to  the  great  precepts  of  the  law — "  houeste  vivere" — 
*'alteriiin  non  lieilere" — "  et  suuni  cui(|Ue  triliueri'." 

.Iiiili'e  Martin's  general  health  continued  in  a  great  measure  unim- 
paired to  a  good  old  ago.  lit;  rarely  lost  a  single  day  in  his  attend- 
ance at  Court,  or  at  the  stated  times  for  consultation.  lUit  his  eye- 
sight hegan  to  tail  many  years  ago,  and  as  early  as  ls:5(;  he  became 
so  hliiid  as  to  he  no  longer  capaMe  of  writing  his  o[»inions,  and  from 
that  jierioil  he  dictated  to  an  amanuensis.  I5ut  he  bore  this  great 
privation  with  remarkable;  fortitude,  and  it  did  not  .'<cem  to  disturl 
the  habitual  serenity  and  cheerfulness  of  his  disixisition.  He  con- 
tiiuied,  however,  to  hope  for  the  restoration  of  his  sight ;  consulted 
numerous  oculists,  but  never  found  but  one  disposed  to  attempt  an 
operation,  and  he  promised  too  much,  and  was  distrusted.  I'o  th( 
last,  even  at  the  age  of  84,  he  never  exhibited  any  of  the  usual  marks 
of  extreme  old  age — although  his  memory  was  somewhat  impaired, 
his  reasoning  powers  were  still  vigorous;  he  had  none  of  the  garrulity 
of  ago,  and  his  existence  closed  without  the  usual  evening  twilight  of 
intellect. 

In  the  summer  of  1844,  he  visited  his  native  France,  for  the  first 
time  since  he  had  left  there  in  his  youth.  He  remained  in  Paris  some 
weeks,  and  his  eyes  were  examined  by  the  ablest  oculists  of  that 
capital.  ]{ut  they  declined  attempting  an  operation,  it  having  been  well 
ascertained  that  the  case  was  iKjpeless — a  confirmed  (jntla  t^i  roKt.  He 
returned  to  Louisiana  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  and  resumed 
his  duties  on  the  IJcnch. 

The  long  and  painful  struggle  of  Judge  ^lartin  in  his  youth  against, 
povei'ty  exerted  a  great  influence  upon  his  habits  and  turn  of  mind 
through  life.  The  accumiihition  of  wealth  by  constant  economy  be- 
came habitual  with  him,  at  the  same  time  that  he  was  scrupulously 
honest  and  fair  in  all  his  dealings.  Indeed,  he  had  always  a  strong 
and  abiding  sense  of  what  is  just,  which  showed  itself  in  his  conduct, 
both  as  a  num  and  as  a  judge. 

His  reports  form  the  most  useful  of  his  works.  They  constitute 
the  lirst  chart  of  a  coast  at  that  time  in  a  great  measure  unc  xplored 
— and  although  not  complete,  and  leaving  much  for  his  successor.s 
to  supply,  yet  they  served  at  least  to  show  the  intricacy  of  the 
navigation,  and  to  point  out  many  of  its  difficulties  and  dangers. 
Such  a  publication  was  a  novelty  at  the  time  in  this  State,  and  the 


'     -   1  f  Ti  1^ 


:5^ 


IllsTOHirAf.  roI.I.KCTIoNS  (IF  LOUISIANA. 


want  of  it  cniild  nut  liavis  been  HUpplu'd  by  the  lloports  of  iiny  otlior 
State!  or  CDuntry.  Wbilr  it  tt'iiiltil  to  pniiliicd  uniformity  of  dfcisidn 
at  lioiiic,  it  made  our  jpcculiar  juri^pnuIiiK't!  bcttt-r  known  abrou<l. 
It  cxliiliit.'il  siinio  of  its  piH'uliaritii's  ami  oxtrllt'ncio.s  in  >*iK'li  stronjr 
Wisht  tiiat  it  has  contributed  in  sonio  particulars,  iind  uspt'ciuily  that 
part  of  our  nysteui,  wliicli  guards  so  cn'cetually  the  rights  of  married 
women,  to  rccouimend  in  acverul  of  the  States  the  udoption  of  similar 
provisions. 

There  are  some  strong  points  of  resemblance  between  .Judge  Martin 
and  I'eter  Stephen  Uuponceau,  who  declined  the  appointment  of  Judge 
in  the  Territory  of  C)rleau.s,  ulntut  the  time  that  olliee  was  accepted 
by  Judge  3lartin.  Hoth  were  Frenchmen  by  birth,  and  arrived  at 
an  early  perioil  in  the  I'nitcd  States,  and  identified  themselves  with 
the  eouutry  ;  both  wrote  in  the  English  language;  both  were  jurists 
and  civilians  of  eminence  ;  each  gave  to  the  profession  a  translation 
of  a  foreign  work  of  great  merit — Martin,  the  Treatise  of  I'othiers 
on  Obligations — Duponceau,  that  of  IJinkcrshock  on  Public  Law, 
and  both  contriliuted  to  create  a  taste  for  such  studies.  ^lartiti  was 
more  exclusively  a  lawyi^r,  although,  as  we  have  seen,  he  published 
two  works  of  History.  Duponceau  was  the  more  elegant  and  accom- 
plished scholar,  and  particularly  distinguished  as  a  Philologist,  and 
so  thoroughly  versed  in  the  aboriginal  languages  of  this  continent 
as  to  have  peceived  the  reward  of  the  French  Institute  for  the  best 
essay  on  that  subject,  lie  published  also  an  original  Treatise  on  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  another  on  the  Juri.sdiction  of 
the  Federal  Courts.  The  style  of  Martin  was  more  pointed  and 
brief — that  of  Duponceau  more  polished  and  copious.  IJoth  wrote 
with  great  purity  in  a  language  which  was  not  their  vernacular 
tongue.  While  Martin  was  satisfied  with  usefulness  on  the  Bench, 
Duponceau  prosecuted  a  more  extensive  line  of  studies  and  pursuits, 
and  was  assiduous  and  useful,  among  other  things,  in  his  efforts  to 
introduce  the  culture  of  silk  in  the  United  States.  Both  lived  to  a 
very  advanced  age,  were  respected  and  honored  by  the  public  for  the 
purity  of  their  lives,  and  their  profound  learning  and  usefulness,  and 
both  in  turn  reflected  honor  on  the  land  of  their  adoption. 

A  great  majority  of  the  most  eminent  lawyers  in  the  United  States 
and  in  England  have  passed  through  the  same  severe  ordeal  of  early 
poverty.  It  is  a  stern  but  salutary  discipline.  Few  professional 
men,  who  were  born  to  aflllueuco  and  nurtured  in  luxury  and  case, 
have  made  u  distinguished  figure  in  after  life.  It  is  adversity  which 
teaches  us  the  importance  of  relying  upon  ourselves,  and  draws  out 


-'i 


1 


HON.  1RAXCOI.4  XAVIFll  MARTIN. 


an 


ull  the  I'norgios  atnl  ri'souRTM  of  the  iniiul.  Notliiiij^  ilisco\ir!ip's  ami 
notliiii^r  ihiunta  such  niLii.  Tluiy  ti'i!l  tluit  timo  and  porsoveraiKv  will 
not  fail  to  rt'Wartl  tlicir  solitary  studit.'s,  ami  gratify  tlu'ir  Intii;  dofi'ircMl 
IiojK'M  of  tlistiiu'tioii.  Till'  livi's  uf  .such  iiicn  an;  witlioiit  any  striking' 
evi'iitH  or  iiiciilonts  on  wliicli  tlu!  attention  of  flic  liio;.^raiilii;r  is  lixcd; 
tlicy  imrMio  tin;  cvou  toimr  of  their  way,  tontontod  with  tli(!  cultiva- 
tion of  the  intcdk'ctual  powers,  and  thu  distinction  which  their  profes- 
sion gives  thoiii  in  society. 

The  example  of  such  men  is  cheering  in  tho  highest  degree  to 
those  who  arc  just  ( iiterliig  on  a  professional  career.  JiCt  them  learn 
never  to  despair.  if  true  to  themselves,  and  dcvnted  to  their  studies, 
under  whatever  disadvantages  of  early  fortune  they  may  labor — how- 
ever hard  the  .struggle  with  want  and  competition,  it  will  come  at  last 
— the  noblest  and  purest  of  all  triumi)hs,  that  of  an  innate  energy 
of  soul  over  a<lversity  and  want  and  neglect.  If  their  studies  are 
commensurate  with  the  almost  boundless  licld  of  the  science  to  wdiich 
they  are  devoted,  embracing,  in  the  language  of  .Justinian,  "divinarum 
at(pie  hunianarum  rerum  notitia — ^justi  at(jue  injusti  .scientia,"  they 
are  prepared  to  act  a  distinguished  part  in  any  of  tho  departments  of 
public  aifairs  to  which  they  may  be  called  in  after  life.  The  profes- 
sion in  the  United  States  has  always  been  the  high  road  to  honorable 
distinction.  Many  of  tho.se  who  by  their  intelligence,  influence  and 
eloquence  prepared  the  public  mind  for  revolution  to  resist  the  en- 
croachments of  power,  were  lawyers  who  had  studied  deeply  the  true 
theory  of  popular  government.  They  afterwards  were  lawyers  who  pre- 
pared and  sustained  the  Declaration  of  Independence — and  cs]iecially 
those  who  devised  the  admirable  Constitution  under  whi<;h  we  live  and 
prosper,  and  who  were  among  its  first  expounders.  The  profession 
here  deals  not  only  with  private  rights,  and  tho  controversies  between 
man  and  man — their  studies  embrace  tho  great  relations  of  tho  go- 
verned with  tho  governor — they  regard  public  otTices  as  public  trusts 
— and  discuss  freely  the  limitations  of  delegated  power,  and  tho 
duties  and  attributes  of  restricted  sovereignty.  The  lawyer  who 
fearlessly  and  boldly  advocates  such  principles  is  already  half  a  states- 
man. Tho  profession  in  this  country  have  always  been,  and  from  the 
nature  of  their  studies  must  always  be,  the  advocates  and  supporters 
of  free  government  and  popular  institutions. 

Francois  Xavier  Martin,  let  it  not  be  forgotten,  was  a  foreigner  by 
birth,  and  a  naturalized  citizen  of  tho  United  States.  lie  was  re- 
ceived as  a  brother — became  early  identilieJ  with  the  country,  and 
had  no  connection  for  more  than  sixty  years  with  the  political  vicissi- 


n 


■I 


I    I 


ii 


40 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


tudcs  of  bis  native  laud.  He  was  thoroughly  American  in  liis  feel- 
ings and  opinions.  lie  was  an  American  lawyer  and  an  American 
magistrate.  If  strict  integrity  of  life — if  a  love  of  truth,  for  th.e 
sake  of  truth  and  justice — if  a  fearless  independence  and  impartiality 
in  the  discharge  of  public  duties — if  a  pi-ofound  knowledge  of  law 
and  the  most  exemplary  devotion  to  duty  during  a  long  life  consti- 
tute the  elements  of  greatness,  surely  he  may  well  be  pronounced 
great. 

AVhat  a  commentary  this  upon  the  liberal  institutions  of  this  wide- 
spread llcpublic,  and  the  generous  spirit  of  a  vast  majority  of  its 
citizens  !  It  opens  wide  its  arms  to  receive  and  cherish  all  those  who, 
driven  by  political  calamities,  or  impelled  by  a  hope  of  ameliorating 
their  condition  in  life,  are  wafted  to  our  shores.  They  bring  with 
them  the  arts  and  industry  and  learning  of  their  country.  It  matters 
not  what  may  have  been  the  land  of  their  nativity — it  matters  not 
what  may  have  been  their  condition  in  early  life — it  matters  not  what 
may  have  been  the  religion  of  their  fathers  or  their  own,  or  in  what 
language  their  first  thoughts  may  have  been  uttered — they  are  wel- 
comed as  men  and  as  brothers — they  become  gradually  assimilated  to 
the  common  mass  of  citizens,  and  their  origin  is  perhaps  forgotten  in 
a  second  generation.  We  become  one  in  feeling — one  in  opinion,  and 
participators  in  and  contributors  to  the  common  renown  of  our  great 
Republic.  The  Bar  of  New  Orleans,  at  whose  request  I  appear  be- 
fore you,  is  at  this  moment  composed  of  men  who  were  born  in  most 
of  the  polished  nations  of  the  globe — France,  Germany,  Belgium, 
England,  the  United  States,  Ireland,  and  Sweden.  They  all  contri- 
bute to  the  stock  of  learning  for  which  the  Bar  is  so  eminently  dis- 
tinguished. In  proportion  as  our  country  spreads  itself,  wider  and 
wider,  by  the  peaceful  conquests  of  civilization,  those  who  take  refuge 
here  from  other  countries,  forgetting  their  native  land  for  that  of 
their  choice,  enjoy  its  blessings  and  advantages  in  common  with  native 
citizens;  and  if  a  frenzy  for  foreign  conquest  by  arms  should  seize  us, 
it  may  be  pleaded  at  least  as  an  excuse  for  us  that  we  are  influenced 
by  no  selfish  and  narrow  views ;  but  those  conquests  will  extend  still 
further  the  influence  of  free  institutions,  and  furnish  a  refuge  and  a 
home  for  the  oppressed  of  other  lands.  It  is  thus  our  government  is 
destined  to  illustrate  the  noble  thought  of  a  living  poet : 

"  Man  is  one ; 
And  ho  hatli  one  great  heart.     It  is  thus  we  feel, 
Witli  a  gigantic  throb  athwart  the  sea, 
Each  other's  riglits  and  wrongs:  thus  are  we  men.'' — Festcs 


focl- 
ricau 
•  the 
ality 
'  law 
mati- 
nced 

ride- 
f  its 
tvho, 

■ting 
Vfith. 
tters 

not 
i'hat 
chat 
wel- 
d  to 
a  in 
and 
reat 

be- 

lOSt 

-ini, 

itri- 
dis- 
md 
age 
of 
ivo 
us, 
ied 
till 


AN 


ANALYTICAL  INDEX 


OF  THE 


WHOLE  OF  THE  PUBLIC  DOCUMENTS 


RELATIVE  TO 


LOUISIANA, 


DEPOSITED  IN  THE  ARCHIVES  OF  THE  DEI'ARTMEXT 


"  DE  LA  MAllLXE  ET  DES  COLOMES'' 


ET 


"  BIBLIOTHEQUE  DU  ROl" 


AT  PARIS. 


BY  EDMUND  J.  FORSTALL. 


IS 


i  i 


AN 


ANALYTICAL    INDEX,   &c. 


POIITFOLIO  NO.  I. 


lat.  Remarks  on  the  province  of  Louisiiana,  5tli  August,  1751 — 
depth  of  water  at  the  Balize  14  feet — war  with  Indians — mode  of 
warfare  required  :  detachment  from  the  main  body,  always  within 
reach  of  assistance,  and  the  main  body  always  within  reach  of  sup- 
plies, &c. 

2d.  171G,  11th  February — memorial  of  the  regency  council — ad- 
vantages of  New  Orleans  developed — proximity  to  Vera  Cruz  and 
Havana — river  courses  and  latent  wealth  of  the  interior — fertility  cif 
the  soil,  favorable  to  tobacco,  rice,  and  cacao — only  issue  to  the  (iulf 
of  Mexico — party  of  twenty  Canadians  exploring  the  lied  lliver — 
voyage  performed  in  three  months — tlieir  visit  to  the  province  of 
Leon  in  3Iexico — copper  mines  discovered — iron,  lead,  gold  and  sil- 
ver found  in  abundance — plan  of  colonization  presented — this  me- 
morial is  signed  by  L.  A.  do  Bourbon  and  the  3Iarshall  d'Estrees, 
and  is  approved  by  the  "  conseil  de  llegence." 

3d.  Statistical  account  by  Mr.  de  Kerlerec  of  the  Indians  inhabit- 
ing the  Mississippi  and  the  Missouri — prospects  of  the  colony — this 
report  is  signed  Kerlerec,  12th  Decendjcr,  1758. 

4th.  1712 — memorial  respecting  the  situation  of  Louisiana — pro- 
ject to  deepen  the  pass  from  the  river  to  the  lake  Maurepas,  from 
Tunicas,  about  seventy-three  leagues  from  New  Orleans,  by  cutting  a 
point  of  laud — pirogues  are  stated  as  being  then  in  communication  witi\ 
the  lakes  through  that  pass.    This  memorial  is  signed  "  IXirtagnctte,'' 

5th.  1712-172*; — laws  and  ordinances  relative  to  Louisiana. 


!.i 


i< : 


i 


4-t 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


Otli,  History  of  the  irruptions  of  the  North  Americans  upon  the 
lands  of  Louisiana.  This  document  is  signed  by  "  \'ilhirs,  Favre 
Daunoy,"  April,  177S. 

7th.  Account  of  the  death  of  Lasallc. 

8th.  1()80 — memorial  explaining  the  reasons  which  led  France  in 
1080,  to  undertake  the  colonization  of  the  country  north  of  the  Gulf 
of  3Iexico.     This  memorial  is  signed  by  "  Do  la  IJoulay." 

!>th.  1725 — questions  propounded  to  Mr.  de  la  Chaise  by  the 
'Tompagnie  des  Indes" — and  his  answers  thereto. 

10th.  1 740 — memoir  of  the  Engineer  Duverges  recommending  cer- 
tain works  at  the  IJalize. 

11th.  1748 — Letter  from  3Ir.  de  Vaiulreuil  respecting  the  Bulize 
— depth  of  tlie  water  at  one  of  the  passes  18  feet. 

12th.  Letter  to  the  French  minister  respecting  wax  from  a  certain 
tree,  1748. 

18th.  7,  Dec.  1750 — Letter  to  the  French  minister  from  Mr.  de 
liichemoro,  recommending  two  financial  plans. 

14th.  Letter  from  Mr.  de  Richemore  to  ministers,  containing  an 
account  of  all  the  officers  and  cadets  in  service. 

15th.  April,  1704 — memorial  from  Mr.  IJrand,  praying  for  an  ex- 
clusive privilege  to  establish  a  printing  oiHce  in  New  Orleans. 

10th.  April,  1704 — letter  from  Mr.  d'Abaddie  to  the  Duke  of 
Choiseul,  showing  the  advantages  of  the  colony — speaking  of  the  first 
experiments  in  the  culture  of  the  cane,  and  forwarding  samples  of 
sugars  from  the  estate  of  Chevalier  de  3Iasan. 

17th.  June,  1704 — letter  from  the  same,  ci>niplaining  of  the  de- 
moralization produced  by  the  circulation  of  depreciated  paper,  and  the 
immoderate  use  of  ardent  spirits,  even  by  the  higher  class  of  society. 

18th.  ]Memorial  (.if  the  merchants  of  New  Orleans  to  Mr.  d'Abad- 
die, "  Directeur  (ieneral  (.^ommandant  la  Province  de  la  Louisiana." 

19th.  4th  Dec.  1 70S_letter  from  Gov.  FUoa  to  the  ^lanpiis  de 
Grimaldi,  announcing  the  revolution  in  Louisiana — his  expidsion  and 
his  arrival  at  Havana. 

'20th.  Statement  by  Gov.  Ulloa  of  the  events  in  Louisiana — a 
document  containing  about  800  hundred  pages,  very  full  and  very 
well  drawn  up  ;  whereby  it  is  clearly  demonstrated  that  Aubry  in  the 
whole  matter  was  the  principal  informer.  That  the  plan  was  not  for 
the  purpose  of  remaining  under  a  kingly  dominion,  but  that  the  end 
was  frenlom — that  for  that  purpose  Messrs.  Noyan  and  Masan  were 
deputed  to  the  English  Governor  of  Florida,  then  residing  at  I'eusa- 
cola,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  the  protection  of  the  Ik-itish  (lovern- 


I'ORTFOLIO  XO.  I. 


45 


nicut  in  )h  half  (if  tlie  imtiidc'il  Hepiiblic.  Thar  the  ( Juveninr  of 
J'loriila  having  refused  ;tll  aid,  the  address  to  I'' ranee  was  rcsiprttd  to 
by  the  rebels  as  the  means  of  coneealing  their  jilan.  That  the  lead- 
ers were  Mr.  de  l^afreniere,  a  creole,  3Ir.  Fuueaidt,  31r.  \'ill('re,  bro- 
tiicr-in-law  (jf  Lafreniere;  ]Mr.  Keri,  Messrs.  Xoyaii,  Verri't,  ]\Iar(|iiis; 
four  brothers,  Lc  Hoy,  who  liave  sinee  assumed  the  name  of  Lafro- 
niere  ;  Len^,  13anlieu  and  Chauvjiin,  -Tudiee,  de  Lery,  ])arimsbourg, 
Hardi  de  I'nisblane,  Thomassin,  Fleurian,  Cabare,  Ducros  and  Millet 
— that  their  jilaee  of  meeting  was  at  a  Mad.  Pradid's,  near  the  eity  of 
New  Orlean.s,  where  they  eoUeeted  to  the  number  of  500.  1"he  plan 
embraced  the  whole  of  Louisiana.  This  doeument  is  full  of  interest, 
and  shows  the  cause  of  the  lukewarniness  of  the  French  Governmeut 
in  the  whole  matter.  The  whole  statement  of  (rov.  I.^lloa  is  corrobo- 
rated by  the  French  (iov.  Aubry,  who  it  appears,  with  the  French 
troops  under  his  command,  was  treated  as  an  enemy  as  well  as  FUoa. 
Thus  Lafreniere,  his  brother-in-law  ^  illere,  ]Mar((uis,  and  their  asso- 
ciates, dii'd  victims  of  their  love  for  liberty,  and  not  of  their  love  for 
France,  as  generally  believed. 

21st.  ^Memorial  of  the  inhabitants  and  merchants  of  Louisiana  to 
the  King  of  France,  explaining  the  causes  Avhieh  led  to  the  expulsion 
of  Ulloa.  This  document,  penned  by  Lafreniere,  was  drawn  up  it  ap- 
pears after  tlie  failure  of  the  application  to  the  IJritish  iJuvernment 
for  protection,  on  the  standard  of  liberty  being  raised — it  is  cnnched 
in  tine  language,  contains  valuable  statistical  information,  and  shows 
that  Louisiana  in  its  infancy  contained  talented  men  and  noble  souls. 

'2'2d.  Jjetter  from  the  3Lir(£uis  de  Grimaldi  to  the  (,'ount  of  Fuentes, 
then  Ambassador  to  the  Court  of  France,  giving  an  account  of  a 
council  of  state,  wherein  the  whole  matter  of  the  Louisiana  Rebellion 
is  taken  up — the  council  having  with  only  oiie  dissenting  voice  decided 
to  consider  Louisiana  as  a  y]»anisli  possession.  The  Manpiis  announces 
the  appointment  of  Gen.  O'Reilly  with  extraordinary  powers,  modi- 
lied,  however,  by  the  King  of  Spain,  so  as  confine  to  expulsion  all 
cases  deserving  greater  punishment.  The  Ambassador  in  the  same 
letter  is  desired  to  demand  of  the  King  of  France  to  disapprove  the 
conduct  of  his  subjects  in  Louisiana.* 

2od.  Letter  from  Aubry  to  the  i)uke  of  (,'hoiseul,  wherein  he  tries 
to  show  that  to  France  Louisiana  can  be  of  no  advantage — and  that 


I:  I 


•  TliL-  inirii-^tcrs  \\lio  met  to  (luciilc  upon  the  I'ate  of  Loiiisiiinn,  after  the  ex- 
pulsion of  Utl'iit,  were  the  Dukes  d'Alha,  .Muiiian,  the  Counts  d'Aranda,  .Mu:<- 
(juir,  Arriega,  and  the  Maniuis  dc  GritnuhUi. 


:!1 


^     i 


46 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


to  Spain  it  c:in  he  of  no  other  rt<lvtintaj.'o  than  to  protect  h^  Mexican 
possessions  against  smuggling.     This  letter  bears  date  ITHS. 

2lth.  Letter  from  the  same  to  the  same,  hearing  date  !24tli  Augu.st. 
ITOK — referring  to  his  former  accounts  of  the  doings  of  the  rebels 
from  liDth  Oct.  ITtlS,  to  20th  May,  17(i!>— confirming  all  the  state- 
ments of  1,'lloa — he  announces  tlie  arrival,  at  a  moment  when  lie  con- 
sidered all  lost,  of  ii  liberator.  Gen.  O'lteilly,  with  iJOOO  troops — he 
gives  an  account  of  the  transfer  of  the  government  to  that  general — 
he  appears  then  to  have  considered  the  whole  matter  as  ended,  and 
that  the  past  would  have  been  forgotten — the  leaders  having  by  his 
advice  quietly  submitted. 

-Oth.  1705 — IGth  Nov.  Decree  prohibiting  the  introduction  of 
slaves  from  ^lartinicjue,  on  account  of  their  propensity  to  poisoning. 

2(ith.  17(»G,  '2[H\i  Sept. — letter  from  Aubry  and  Foucault,  notify- 
ing the  refusal  of  the  French  troops  to  enter  into  the  service  of  Spain. 

27th.  1710 — letter  from  Mr.  Buclos  to  the  French  minister  rela- 
tive to  Natchez. 

28th.  No  date — finances  of  Louisiana — first  account  of  the  intro- 
duction of  government  paper  money  in  Louisiana  by  Ordinance  of  the 
King  of  France,  bearing  date  14th  Sept.  17o5 — amount  issued  200.(100 
livi'es.  The  reasons  alleged  for  this  issue  are  the  same  which  were 
given  by  some  of  our  modern  financiers,  to  justify  their  application  to 
the  ]}ank  of  the  United  States  for  their  depreciated  paper,  to  enable 
the  New  Orleans  banks  to  resume  specie  payment.  At  that  epoch 
the  King  of  France  was  a  merchant,  had  public  stores,  and  the  circu- 
lation of  his  paper  money  was  to  have  been  obtained  by  its  being  made 
legal  tender  for  all  goods  purchased  from  the  public  stores.  This 
document  is  not  dated,  and  appears  to  have  been  written  in  1744-5. 

29th.  No  date — opinion  of  jMessrs.  Bienville  and  Salmon  regard- 
ing the  emission  of  paper  money,  which  they  recommend. 

30th.  Statistics  of  the  Indian  nations  from  Mobile  to  Carolina — 
plan  presented  to  secure  the  trade  then  carrying  on  between  the  In- 
dians and  Carolina.  This  document  is  without  date,  and  appears  to 
liavo  been  drawn  up  under  the  administration  of  Gov.  de  Kerlerec. 

81st.  1740 — Muster  roll  of  all  the  officers  and  cadets  in  Louisiana. 

32d.  1710,  13th  May— instruction  of  the  King  of  France  to  Mr. 
De  la  IMothe  Cadillac,  as  Governor  of  Louisiana.  This  document 
shows  the  great  difficulties  the  first  inhabitants  had  to  labor  under. 

33d.  1743,  21st  July — letter  from  Vaudreuil  Salmon,  touching 
the  wax-tree. 

34th.  IMemorial  of  Dr.  Brat  on  the  same  subject. 


I 


^^ 


I'ORTFOLtO  NO.  I. 


47 


ijotii.  Meinoriiil  on  Xatchitucbo.".  This  ilocuiiicnt  is  inturc&tiu^' ; 
tliiit  iduntry  is  tlici'e  ropresentcd  as  favorable  tn  all  tliu  agriciilturai 
products  of  Eiiro|u',  ami  to  cotton,  tobacco,  \'c.  It  l)ears  no  date,  an'i 
a]i]n'ars  to  have  been  drawn  up  by  Mr.  St.  Denis 

.'jiith.  17<>5 — report  of  the  arrival  of  ll»!»  Acadians  ?cut  to  Ope- 
lousas. 

oTtli.  I7<il,  7tb  Juno — memorial  of  the  merchants  of  New  Orleans 

to  IMr.  d'Abbadie,  dei)ieting  the  wretched  condition  of  the  colons 
produced  by  depreciated  paper  money.  This  document  contains  a 
practical  refutation  of  the  credit  system  as  eulogized  by  our  present 
chaml)er  of  commerce  in  their  pamphlet  entitled  "Credit  Sy.stem." 
It  shows  the  demoralizing  effects  produceil  by  the  shadow  being  mis- 
taken fur  the  substance. 

••J^th.  ]7(i4,  10th  April — letter  to  3Ir.  d'Abaddi(>,  respecting  ^iOO*' 
Indian-  c( Elected  in  ^Inbile — the  advantages  of  the  colony,  and  the 
progress  in  the  manufacture  of  sugar. 

oOth.  17(54 — letter  from  3Ir.  d'Abaddie  to  the  Duke  of  Choiseui 
announcing  the  establishment  at  Lafourche  (Jhetimaelies,  of  about 
"20<>  Indians  from  INIobile — the  Tcansas. 

4l>th.  1704 — statistics  of  the  colony — population  including  tlu 
garrison,  180  men. 

27  families — 3  girls  and  7  boys  from  1  to  10  years. 

<S0  houses  covered  with  lataniers,  laid  out  in  straight  streets. 

100  acres  land  cleared  for  the  building  of  the  cit^-, 

0  oxen,  of  which  5  belong  to  the  King. 

14  cows. 

4  bulls  belonging  to  the  King.    This  document  is  signed  ''Lasalle.* 

41st.  1702 — letter  from  l)o  Lasalle,  announcing  his  arri^'al  at  I'en 
sacola  and  Mobile.     This  document  is  interesting. 

42d.  1702,  11th  Dec. — letter  from  De  Lasalle  to  the  minister, 
stating  that  he  has  been  compelled  to  dispatch  a  vessel  to  N'era  (,'ru/. 
to  inform  the  Viceroy  of  Mexico  of  the  siege  of  St.  Augustine  by 
the  English  and  Indians,  with  IG  ships. 

Pensacola  appears  to  have  been  founded  four  years  after  the  disci »■ 
very  of  Louisiana. 

4oil.  1729-30 — history  of  the  wars  in  Louisiana — Dartaguette  w;i- 
killed  in  battle  with  the  Indians. 


i 


It 


f 


p 


48  HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


PORTFOLIO  NO.  II. 

14tb.  17*19 — romurks  of  jMr.  Aubry  on  the  rebellion  in  Louisiana. 

45th.  Menioriul  on  the  finances  of  Louisiana  posterior  to  17ol. 

40th.  KiOT,  14th  Oct. — Quebec,  letter  touching  information  rc- 
«Hiired  about  the  Spanish  possessions  iu  IMexico  borilering  the  tribu- 
taries of  the  3Iississippi :  this  document  is  interesting;  it  speaks  of 
Lasalle,  and  presents  some  remarks  on  the  mines. 

47th.  2Gth  July — Dartaguette  in  Louisiana  speaks  of  the  inunda- 
tion by  the  jMississippij  its  waters  having  risen  to  the  garrets  of  houses 
in  New  Orleans. 

4!Sth.  '2'2d  February,  1759 — survey  of  the  domains  of  the  King 
adjoining  Mrs.  Pradel's  plantation. 

49th.  174y,  21st  >Iay — memorial  of  3Ir.  Gradesfils  iu  Louisiana, 
showing  the  great  advantages  of  that  colony. 

50th.  I'rojcct  of  colonization  for  Louisiana,  demand  of  a  large 
tract  of  land  on  condition  of  its  being  cultivated  in  tobacco,  cotton, 
sugar-cane  and  indigo.  This  project,  drawn  up  iu  Versailles,  bears 
no  date. 

51st.  1717 — mclnorial  of  3Ir.  Hubert  on  Louisiana,  attempting  to 
show  that  the  colonization  of  that  country,  if  energetically  pursued, 
would  gradually  lead  to  the  conquest  of  the  whole  of  North  America. 

52d.  ^Memorial  to  show  that  Louisiana  might  beconco  as  important 
as  Mexico. 

53d.  1719 — memorial  of  3Ir.  Bienville  announcing  the  fall  of  I'en- 
sacola  into  his  hands,  and  the  events  ensuing  the  same. 

54th.  1738 — insignificant  letter  respecting  the  Jesuits 

55th.  1754,  20th  Sept. — letter  from  Mr.  de  Kerlerec  to  Dauber- 
ville,  on  the  necessity  of  military  station  at  the  Ealize.  This  letter 
contains  an  interesting  account  of  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  a  pro- 
posal to  establish  there  a  floating  battery  with  heavy  guns. 

56th.  Statement  of  occurrences  in  Biloxi. 

57th.  Project  to  restore  confidence  in  Louisiana  destroyed  by  irre- 
deemable paper  money  ;  proposal  to  make  the  King's  paper  legal  ten- 
der ;  form  of  an  edict.  This  document  must  have  been  written  some 
time  about  1754. 

5Sth.  ]Mt'iuorial  on  Louisiana,  representing  the  necessity  of  retain- 
ing that  eolduy,  in  order  to  prevent  the  English  becoming  masters  of 
not  only  the  whole  of  North  America,  but  also  of  Mexico.     By  this 


PORTFOMO  NO.   II. 


49 


donuucnt  it  !i])i»i';irs  that  Mr.  St.  I»ciii"'  lic'iilcd  the  20  (.'aiiadiiiiis  i>n 
the  fxphirinir  cxjioditinn  from  the  l\fi\  llivcr  td  the  |ii'i)viii('i'  of 
Leon  in  Moxieo ;  it  ajipcars  to  have  been  written  about  tlie  vear 
171;'). 

5'   h.  Memorial  on  the  same  subject  at  the  same  epoch. 

00th.         do.  do. 

Gist.  11502,  14tli  Hept. — account  of  the  attack  I)y  five  00  jrun  ves- 
sels of  the  Fort  Louis  in  Jiouisiana,  umler  the  command  of  Mr.  de 
TJouilloii,  Ciovernor  of  Newfoundland. 

02d.  1700 — memorial  for  the  colonization  of  the  Mississippi. 

O.'td.  List  of  the  officers  under  the  command  of  Dartagucttc,  and 
in  liOuisiana. 

04th.  1740,  17th  Pec.— memorial  of  ]\rr.  Le  Hailly  Messajxer,  on 
Louisiana.  This  document  is  interesting ;  a  central  power  is  proposed 
to  be  established  on  the  Wabash — fertility  of  the  soil,  &c. 

G5lh.  1750 — memorial  of  the  same,  on  the  same  subject. 

00th.  1754,  0th  March — memorial  on  Ijouisiana;  by  Mr.  (^)loni, 
to  increase  the  commerce  of  Louisiana  with  the  Islands  and  the  me- 
tropolis; the  plan  embraces  the  whole  of  the  basin  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  is  interesting. 

07th.  No  date — report  of  three  eommissinncrs  touching  an  inter- 
view with  the  (iovcrnor  of  Pcnsacola,  dc  (Jalve,  for  the  purpose  of  de- 
vising the  means  to  prevent  the  English  taking  possession  of  that  post. 
Determination  on  the  part  of  the  Governor  of  Pensacola  to  rely  upon 
the  JiuU  oi  I'ope  Alexander  the  VI.,  conceding  the  line  180  to  the 
Catholic  Kings,  the  power  of  the  Pope  to  grant  crowns  repudiated  by 
the  commissions.  This  document  is  curious,  and  appears  to  have  been 
written  in  1700, 

G8th.  1700 — observations  on  the  Bull  of  Pope  Alexander;  de- 
velopment of  the  immense  advantages  to  be  derived  by  France  from 
the  possession  of  Louisiana. 

00th.  1701,  17th  July — memorial  on  Louisiana;  advice  to  the 
King  as  to  the  measures  to  (.o  adopted  for  its  welfare. 

70th.  1700,  27th  April — memorial  on  Louisiana;  situation  of  the 
colony. 

71st.  1712,  June — memorial  of  Mr.  Tions  de  Gouville,  on  the  ad- 
vantages of  Louisiana,  and  the  causes  which  have  checked  all  progress 
in  that  country. 

72d.  No  date — memorial  on  fortifications  re(iuired. 

7od.   173S,  10th   May — Hubert's  memorial   on   Louisiana.     This 
document  is  very  interesting  for  its  statistical  information. 
5 


I 


V  \ 


I  '■ 


r 


I  • 


so 


iiisTOKicvr,  roi.r.EOTioNs  of  mu  i.>ia.\a 


TItli.  171  J — iiiriiinri.il  t(i>Iiii\v  till'  UfCfSsity  nf  iiivitiiii:' ciiiiij-i'iiti'ni 
to  li(jiii>i!m!i.  Tliirs  (IiH-uuiL'Ut  is  iiitorotiii^',  unci  cuiUains  cxtnut.s  mI" 
letters  from  Crozut. 

Tofli.  171<i — ffi'e;it  mill  Jiiii.^ttrly  (li'veltijinuiit  of  tlii;  dotiuios  nf 
]iiiiii>iaii;i, 

Tilth.  1714,  ITtli  April — iiu'inoriul  on  tlie  wri  tclioil  couilition  nf 
the  eoloiiy. 

77th.  171'i — a  iiieiiioriul  is  to  bo  found  on  Louisi.mu  uftcr  JiUsuUoV 
di.seovtry,  in  the  resistors  of  the  niivy  driiartiiient,  S  /.,  l'2'-\  rn. 
(This  is  a  nieniorunduni  in  this  purtfnlio  ) 

7'^th.  17il(l — memorial  on  the  forliiifatiims  of  i'ciisaeola,  and  nf 
till!  impossiliility  on  aeeoiint  of  ihe  nature  of  the  soil  tn  e.'^tablish  gund 
foundations. 

7'Jtli.  17:20 — letter  and  memorial  of  3Ir.  Hubert  oa  tlu'  advantages 
of  Louisiana. 

8Uth.  17o!] — jirohibition  by  the  ^lanpiis  DiKpiesne  aiiainst  the  ex- 
portatiiin  of  irvain  from  Canada ;  he  styles  hiiu.-ulf  (Invrninr  of  "la 
NouvcUe  Fraiiee,  and  of  all  tho  lauds  and  eountries  nf  Louisiana." 

Mist.  1755 — Quebc>',  Canada,  proees  verbal  of  a  vnyage  to  the 
river  Senaramixi. 

!S2d.  1751,  Tombeekbe,  IStli  June — letter  announcing  the  capture 
of  iive  deserters  J  speeches  nf  the  Indians  who  brought  them  back,  to 
obtain  their  pardon. 

8od.  1787 — extract  of  a  letter  from  3Ir.  do  A'illiers  on  the  suli- 
jcct  of  a  tobacco  contract  with  the  King  of  Spain. 

84:th.  Canada,  1753 — ordinance  of  the  Manjuis  Ducjuesne,  fixing 
the  maximum  of  wheat  to  o  livns  pur  niiiint  on  plantations,  and  :> 
livres  10  sols  in  town. 

85th.  171U — memorial  of  Mr.  Crozat  on  Louisiana,  important  de- 
velopments. 

8Gth.  1751,  15tli  July — accusation  of  Mr.  Michel  against  3Ir. 
Fleurian,  procurcur-general,  and  Captain  IX'rncville. 

87th.  No  date — memorial  explanatoiy  of  patent  letters  proposed  to 
the  King. 

88tli.  170!) — grievances  against  (ioveruor  Ulloa  and  Aubiy.  The 
document  is  not  signed. 

89th.  1745 — interesting  memorial  on  the  administrati(jn  of  Louis- 
iana. By  tills  document  it  appears  that  the  I'rsulinc^  are  bumd  to  at- 
tend to  the  lio.spital,  and  to  educate  -jO  orphan  girls 

UOth.  1710 — letters  patent  projected  for  Louisiana. 


I'OUTFOMo  N(i.  11. 


;■)! 


'.lilt.  liiii'J — mciiinriiils  n'S|i('ctiiig  tlu' ilniiij;s  ni'  tlic  ^\'t■>t  linliu 
('nrii)iaiiy  ;  t'nrins  nF  cfuiccosiniis. 

I'Llil.  17"i."l — iin'iiinri;il  mi  tlic  rivirs,  l;iiiil-<  ami  Imliaiis  of  MisMUiri, 
Tliis  dofuuii'iil  i>  iiitcrcstiiijr,  Jiiid  slunvs  that  tlare  was  a  trailic  tluii 
farniiiii  nii  lutwirii  .Mi>sniiri  ami  .^Icxicit. 

'.»."Iil.  N'n  (late — mciiinrial  tor  a  ciiiH'c^sinii  nf  laipis  friiin  Maiicliai- 
to  New  ()rl<'a;is. 

I'ltli.  -Nil  <lati! — iiR'iiiorial  nn  llic  Milijcct  lA'  r'allu  r  iJcaiilniis,  .supc- 
rinr  dt'tlu!  "  Missionnaiit'S  .Icsuitc.s"'  in  Loiii>iaiia.  This  (liMiiiiiciit  ap- 
pears  ti)  liave  ht'cii  adiIirsMil  tn  Ouvii'iidr  IJiciivilK'. 

It")tli.  ]'■'>>'• — iiu'iiiiirial  <if  (I'lVri'imr  niciiviUc,  tdiicliiiig  his  iiitcndi'd 
operations  against  the  Chicachas. 

91'ith.   IT-!") — opinion  of  Mr.  l>it'nvillc  in  case  of  war. 

!)7tli.  17''i'">,  2r)tii  Angu.-t — ]\lr.  l>icn\illc  si'iids  an  accntint  on 
(Jt'oruiaj  of  their  systuni  of  colnnizutioii,  \c.  Tliis  docunifnt  is  in- 
torostiiig. 

'JMh.    l7o.'),  20th  Sept. — Mr.  de  I5ienville  on  tlu;  t'hicacha.s. 

'.»l»th.   ll',W>,  ]4th  April — Mr.  de  15ienvil!u  on  the  Indian-s. 

ninth.   17:il>,  "i-'jlh  March—  do.  do. 

101st.  No  ilate — report  on  tlio  necessity  of  separating  the  govern- 
ment of  Loiiisiaiiu  from  that  of  Canada,  to  wliich  nnder  the  West 
Inilia  Company  it  was  attaehed.  This  document  was  evidently  written 
in  17'')1  ;  recommend.s  a  new  organization. 

I02d.  17."J1.  2.3lh  March — Mr.  I'aria  advises  the  minister  of  the 
defeat  of  the  Kenard.s,  by  the  Illinois  ami  other  Indians  living  ou  the 
border.s  of  C'anada;  he  enters  into  some  details  re.-^peeting  Indian  war- 
fare. Speaks  of  one  of  the  passes  at  the  Uali/.e  having  17  feet  water, 
which  shortly  before  had  only  1'2  ;  k  of  opinion  that  two  vessels  em- 
ployed thrci!  months  each  year,  say  Ajiril,  May  and  June,  would  give 
22  feet  on  the  bar.  Speaks  of  a  report  by  him  ou  the  iJalize  which 
I  have  not  yet  found.     This  document  is  ver}-  interesting. 

lOOd.  2(h\[  August — account  of  the  Natchez  war,  by  3[r.  D'Iron, 
IT.'il. 

KUth.  1735 — Mr.  dc  l>icnville  ou  Louisiana  in  case  of  war;  its 
relation  with  the  Indians. 

10r)th.  17o7,  -Oth  Dec. — Mr.  Bienville's  report  of  two  expeditions 
of  the  Chactaws  against  the  Chicaelias. 

lOOtli.  17;>,  V-'a\i  August — Mr.  Ijlenville's  report  of  deserters 
brought  back  by  the  Alibamous. 

107th.  1738,  2lith  April — Mr.  Bienville's  report  on  the  interior  of 
Illinois  and  Ohio,  and  of  the  Indians  there. 


11!  I 


ii 


i 


52 


IllMTfJlirrAr,  ('(iM-KCTKtNS  i)V  l.ril  IslAXA. 


tOSHi.  17;{K, 'Jli<l  Miinli— Mr.  Iliiiivilli's  npurt  of  aii  exploring,' 
voyiipo  fo  tlio  rivtr  .Iiulinux  (  Vazno),  ditails  (in  thnsc  I'nuiitiiis  ;  di.s- 
covL-ry  of  the  CliiciU'Iiiis  mikI  wliicli  Ii.'il  to  tlio  vo^uj^c. 

lOiHli.  17:;s, 'J'.ltli  Miiy— >rr.  Mifiivillc's  rcpurt  (if  tlio  voyiiirc  of 
exiildniliiiii  MU  tlu;  Wiilia.sli  ;  iiil(  ri'^tiiij.'  ;icfiiuiit  of  tlu;  H'ljdiiiing 
coiuifry. 

lltlfli.  17<>-_'.  'JOdi  June— inriii.iiiiil  of  .Mr.  .I'lhcrvillo  on  tlic  Mis- 
sisyilipi,  llic  Moliilc,  ami  hurronndiii;^  countries;  tlicir  inlialiidints, 
lutilii'lois  (it  niiiny  l>lacL'«  taken  by  liiin  ;  utatisfics  of  all  tlie  hulian 
n.•ltillll^,  iiicluilin;^  tlu!  lllinoin  ami  Oliio.  lie  states  tlic  nuniljer  of 
families  at  'il,!^))!*;  plan  of  aetimi  jiroiMi.sed.  This  document  is  ably 
drawn  up  and  full  of  interest;  it  bears  the  signature  of  3Ir.  d'lber- 
ville. 

111th.  ITOS,  '2r>th  Feb.— memorial  of  Mr.  Dartuguctte,  giving  an 
account  of  the  information  received  by  liiin  from  Mr.  Deuiny  of  the 
fort  of  Louisiana;  statistical  report  on  ^lobile. 

112th.  Letter  from  IJienville,  with  a  full  account  of  the  doings  in 
Mobile  and  Louisiana;  represents  the  cmuitry  in  a  state  of  great 
poverty ;  citutaius  iuterestiug  information  ou  the  Indians  and  the 
Engliah. 

llvith.  ITol- letter  from  Mr.  de  St.  Denis  to  Mr.  S.dmon,  giving 
an  account  of  a  battle  with  the  Indians. 

114th,  17ti;> — ovacvuiti(m  of  Louisiana.  It  is  proposed  to  send  to 
St.  Domingo  the  troops  in  Louisiana;  this  jdan  is  approved. 

115th.  13  Fructidor  An  10,  General  31ilford  Tristanagy  proposes 
to  answer  the  application  made  by  the  American  minister  for  the  jair- 
chase  of  Louisiana  ;  CJencnil  Milford  promises  to  prove  to  the  first 
consul  that  a  cession  would  be  fatal  to  France. 

llGth.  1747,  Feb. — Governor  Vaudrcuil  states  his  preparations  in 
case  of  attack  by  the  Engli.«h ;  sends  a  plan  of  the  mouth  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi (not  yet  found)  ;  says  that  the  bar  at  the  IJalizo  contain.s  11 
or  12  feet,  mud  and  sandy  bottom,  and  15,  10  and  17  feet  on  the 
eastern  pass,  and  a  shorter  bar. 

117th.  1712,  Sth  Sept. — memorial  to  prevent  debauchery  (liber- 
tinage)  in  Louisiana. 

118th.  1702, 18th  Nov. — cession  of  Louisiana  to  Spain ;  ratification 
by  the  King  of  Spain. 

119th.  Questions  by  General  Victor  to  the  First  Consul  regarding 
Louisiana  and  his  answers. 

120th.  1753 — Mr.  de  Kerlerec,  suit  of  Andre  Barri. 

121st.  1701 — memorial  of  Mr.  d'Ibcrville  on  Tensacola. 


rORTFOMO  NO.  II. 


68 


122(1.  17f>:i — iirnji'ct  to  take  Charlcstim  iind  to  Imrn  It. 

1'J;M.  1 7 •')(),  Isf  l\\>. — littir  nf  I'icrrc  Higaut,  Mar«|uia  do  Vnu- 
drt'uil,  iiituriii'nig  tho  King  of  the  lU'LT.sHity  ho  h;nl  \>vvu  uiitlor  of  is- 
siiin;;  p;i)p(  r  inmicy. 

I'J  Ith.  MuiiiuraiiiJiim  tu  .show  in  what  lijrht  tho  West  rmlla  Oom- 
jiiiny  nii;^Iit  to  havo  lu'oo  CHnsiilcrcd  liy  tho  Fn-iieh  (iowrnment. 

12r)tli.   No  (late — luuiiional  of  tho  Wr.st  India  (!oini>any. 

I'Jdth.   l(is') — nicniciriul  of  the  West  India  ('oin])any. 

127th.  17;")!},  Nth  March — .Mr.  KcrKrco  aniiouiicint;  hi.-*  arrival  in 
Louisiana,  ho  givo.s  an  account  of  liis  reception,  and  .some  statistical 
details. 

12Sth.  1770,  10th  Juno — memorial  of  Mr.  llobe;  Onhnnutcuv 
of  Louisiana. 

12!»th.  1715 — instructions  of  tho  Kiii},'  to  Messrs.  Laraotho,  Oa- 
dillai'  and  Ducio.-,  (governor  and  Ofdanitatmr  of  Louisiana. 

l;!(ltii.  17")2 — three  tables  to  <-arry  on  the  official  correspondence 
between  the  colony  and  its  nietroi)oli.s  by  the  means  of  ciphens,  and 
the  key  for  tho  .same. 

No.  r)20  St.  Va;L,'o;  No.  WO  luij  No.  540  :ib ;  No.  550  Croix; 
No  4<'.0  beau;  400  Canada,  &c. 

iJjlst.  17o2,  ittli  May — pracm  vn-Jial  oi  Messrs.  Pcrrier  and  Sal- 
mon rcspetiting  tho  arrival  of  14G  S\vis.s  soldiers. 

l.!J2d.  17<ii),  2d  June — result,  of  the  sitting  at  the  government 
house  respecting  certain  works  to  be  undertaki'U. 

l.'J.'M.  1707,  22dJune — proposals  of  Mr.  le  Count  de  Poncliartraia 
fur  the  formation  of  a  (!onipany  in  Louisiana. 

I;>4th.  17oo — Mr.  de  IJienville  announces  his  arrival  at  the  Cape 
Francois;  hopes  to  be  in  New  Orleans  oO  days  after. 

135th.  1732, 12th  ]\ray — letter  from  Mr.  Salmon  touching  the  con- 
dition of  Louisiana  and  ]\Iobilo. 

l.'XIth.  1715 — extract  of  a  letter  written  at  Caskasias,  a  village  iu 
Illinois,  sometimes  called  I'Tmiuaculee  conception  de  la  Ste.  A'ierge, 
dated  'Jth  Nov.  1712,  by  Father  Cabriel  Marcst,  a  Jesuit  residing 
since  several  years  in  that  country  as  a  missionary.  This  letter  was 
printed  in  1715  in  the  "  Lettres  edifiautcs;"  it  is  full  of  interest,  and 
contains  great  statistical  information. 

l;]7tli.  1701,  12th  Dec— letter  of  Mr.  Thiton  do  Sileque  in  behalf 
of  3Ir.  de  Kcrlcroe,  stating  his  services  for  the  King. 

138th.  No  date — picture  of  the  troubles  in  Louisiana,  ard  of  the 
donioralizatiou  occasioned  by  pnper  money;  plan  to  restore  confidence ; 
means  recommended ;  "  to  coerce  forthwith  the  withdrawal  of  paper 


m 


>)-••»  MM -*<«H»'V^4  ■n'^ 


l|  :!i   I  ( 


54 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


money  and  its  payment  in  full."  This  document  appears  to  have  been 
written  in  17(50. 

No  date — Mr.  do  Kerlerec  asks  the  cordon  rouge  and  sends  his 
''  feuillo  de  service." 

139th.  No  date — remarks  on  tlio  commerce  of  Louisiana  and  its  ces- 
sion to  Spain.     This  document  must  have  been  written  in  1770. 

140th.  1704,  May — memorial  of  3Ir.  do  Kerlerec  on  the  advan- 
tages of  a  commercial  treaty  with  Spain,  with  a  view  of  establishing 
an  cntrqwt  in  New  Orleans. 

141st.  1704,  3Iay — letter  of  Mr.  de  Kerlerec  enclosing  the  above 
memorial. 

142d.  No  date — extracts  of  all  the  letters  of  Mr.  de  Kerlerec  on 
the  demoralized  condition  of  Louisiana.  This  document  must  have 
been  written  in  1764. 

14od.  No  date — memorial  of  the  corjis  of  engineers ;  the  artillery 
and  cadets  of  Louisiana. 

144th.  No  date — memorial  on  the  population  of  Louisiana  ;  Paris 
and  other  large  cities  of  the  kingdom  had  been  sending  to  Louisiana 
their  debauched  women ;  fortunately  for  the  colony,  says  the  pape;*, 
the  women  died  as  they  arrived ;  recommends  colonization  on  a  more 
respectable  plan. 

145th.  No  date — memorial  on  Louisiana,  from  which  it  appears 
that  the  Capucins  established  themselves  there  in  172!2 ;  that  their 
establishment  obtained  the  royal  sanction  on  the  15th  July,  1725. 
That  the  first  treaty  between  the  Jesuits  and  the  West  India  Company 
was  entered  into  in  1721  j  and  that  they  obtained  the  royal  sanction 
to  their  establishment  on  the  20th  February  and  17th  August,  1720; 
that  their  ecclesiastical  functions  were  subject  to  the  control  of  the 
Superior  of  the  Capucins. 


rOKTFOLIO  NO.  III. 

14Gth.  1705-1707 — correspondence  of  Aubry  and  Foucault  with 
the  government  touching  the  administration  of  the  countr3^ 

147th.  170;) — project  of  evacuation  of  Louisiana  by  the  French  on 
the  cession  to  Spain. 

148th.  No  date — memorial  on  Louisiana.  This  document  appears 
to  have  been  written  towarils  the  year  1730  ;  it  is  remarkable  for  its 
extensive  views ;  it  treats  of  the  country  of  3Iobile,  of  the  Balize,  of 
its  passes,  of  the  country  lietween  the  IJalizc  and  New  Orleans,  of  the 


PORTFOLIO  NO.  III. 


55 


noiglibnrhootl  of  this  city,  of  Pointo  Coupoc,  of  Xatchoz,  or  Aik;in- 
sasi,  of  Illinois  ;  it  contains  40  pages,  and  concliulos  by  oftbring  a  plan 
of  colonization  for  tin;  whole.     On  the  passes  it  states  : — 

"  Ivivcr  St.  Louis  (.Mississippi)  throws  itself  into  tho  sea  by  five 
mouths,  thus  distinguished :  eastern  pass,  south-cast  pass,  south  pass, 
south-west  pass,  and  the  Ualize.  In  1 7-0  the  south  pass  was  the  only 
one  u.scd." 

"  It  has  been  observed  jnnee  these  passes  have  been  used  that  only 
one  or  two  can  be  navigated  at  the  same  time,  and  that  even  then 
tiiey  have  only  10  tr)  12  feet  water  on  their  bars,  which  vary  each 
year  according  to  the  violence  of  the  winds,"  A:e.  \'c. 

"  ]}esides  these  five  passes,  the  river  throws  its  waters  through 
smaller  issues  forced  by  it,  and  called  ]?ayous.  If  three  of  the 
above  passes  were  closed,  as  also  the  bayous,  all  tho  waters  would  be 
forced  into  the  two  passes  situated  in  opposite  directions,  such  as  tho 
pa.ss  of  the  cast  and  the  south-west  pass;  the  current  being  increased 
there  would  be  less  deposits;  besides  the  wind  from  the  sea,  which 
would  stem  the  current  of  one  pass,  by  throwing  a  greater  bulk  of 
water  in  the  other  would  increase  its  current,  whereby  tho  bar  thereof 
would  clear  itself  of  mud  deposits,  Arc.  \'e.  These  passes  and  bayous 
may  be  easily  closed  by  three  or  four  rows  of  pilotis  placed  close  to 
each  other,  and  at  a  distance  of  about  150  to  200  toises  from  the 
mouth  of  the  3Iississippi  to  tho  pass.  The  interval  would  serve  as  a 
bod  for  the  drift  wood,  which  being  thus  stopped  would  soon  be 
covered  with  the  dopo.sits  of  the  river.  I  believe  that  such  a  work 
would  soon  afford  a  great  protection  against  tho  river." 

At  the  time  this  memorial  w  s  written,  tho  sugar-cane  was  producing 
2500  pounds  of  sugar,  besides  the  molasses. 

A  plan  is  presented  for  the  employment  of  025  white  families,  and 
10,000  blacks,  in  the  cultivation  of  the  sugar  cane  and  tobacco. 

140th.  1710 — memorial  on  tho  advantages  to  Louisiana  of  inviting 
the  Acadians  established  at  Detroit  to  return  to  this  colony. 

150th.  1778 — memorial  of  Mad.  Dubreuil,  praying  for  a  pension 
f.i'ai  the  French  Government,  as  daughter  of  iMr.  Delachaise,  director 
of  the  West  India  Company,  who  was  the  first  administrator  of  liouis- 
iana,  who.se  wisdom  and  activity  tended  to  consolidate  the  colony. 

151st.  No  date — memorial  of  the  citizen  Bounevie  to  the  citizen 
Decres,  minister  of  marine  ami  the  colonies,  proposing  to  undertake 
an  o.xpLjring  voyage  from  the  western  part  of  Loui.-iana  to  the  I'acific 
Ocean.  iv 

152d.  1754 — expose  by  Mr.  (.'(ihju  of  tljo  advantages  to  France  of 


I    11 


■ 


56 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


the  possession  of  Louisiana.  This  paper  is  highly  interesting  and 
full  of  statistical  iuformation  j  it  treats  fully  of  the  agriculture  of  the 
country. 

153tl.  175-1 — memorial  of  Mr.  Colon  on  the  commerce  of  Louisiana. 

154th.  1754 — project  of  association  for  Louisiana  by  Mr.  Colon. 

155th.  No  date — picture  of  the  wretched  condition  of  the  colony 
produced  by  the  depreciated  currency;  plan  to  restore  confidence. 
This  document  must  have  been  penned  about  the  year  17G5  or  'G. 

15Gth.  An  12,  Frimaire  20 — proces  verbal  of  the  '^  prise  de  pos- 
session" of  Louisiana  by  France.  This  document  is  signed  Laussat, 
and  is  addressed  to  the  citizen  Decrtis,  minister  of  marine  and  the 
colonies. 

157th.  17GG  to  17G8 — private  letters  of  Mr.  Foucault  to  the  French 
minister,  No.  1  to  70. 

15Sth.  I'aris — 29  Fructidor — An  9 — memoranda  on  Louisiana  by 
Mr.  Joseph  Pontalba,  of  Louisiana.  Its  position  as  to  the  United 
States ;  its  population ;  the  character  of  its  inhabitants ;  its  culture ; 
its  commerce ;  its  resources ;  the  importance  it  might  acquire  and  the 
means  to  obtain  the  same.  Speaks  of  a  plan  proposed  by  a  rich  in- 
habitant of  Ohio  (evidently  Gen.  Wilkinson),  to  detach  the  whole  of 
the  western  country  from  the  east,  to  form  an  independent  govern- 
ment with  Louisiana,  &c.  &c.  This  document,  dated  "  Croissy,  near 
Chalons,"  is  addressed  to  the  minister  Dccres. 

159th.  1803,  20th  Dec.—"  the  3Ioniteur,"  containing  the  Procla- 
mation of  AV'm.  C.  C.  Claiborne,  announcing  the  "prise  de  possession" 
of  Louisiana.  This  paper,  No.  378,  gives  a  full  account  of  all  the 
events  accompanying  this  change  :  the  new  organization  and  the  ap- 
pointments made. 

IGOth.  1709 — extract  of  a  memorial  by  Mr.  3Iandeville,  ensign  of 
the  ^\iubant  Company  in  liouisiana. 

IGlst.  No  date — memorial  praying  the  King  to  commute  the  pe- 
nalty incurred  by  smugglers  to  transportation  to  Louisiana. 

162d.  No  date — memorial  on  Louisiana  after  the  treaty  of  peace 
of  17G4. 

lG3d.  Correspondence  of  Messrs.  de  Kerlercc  and  Foucault  on  the 
disordered  state  of  the  administration  in  Louisiana;  complaints  of  the 
quality  of  the  goods  from  France  for  the  King's  stores;  insubordiuation 
of  the  oflBcers. 

lG4th.  1752,  30th  Sept. — important  observation  on  the  commerce 
of  Louisiana,  which  Mr.  Dubreuil .  takes  the  liberty  of  submitting  to 
the  King,  ^ 


PORTFOLIO  NO.  III. 


57 


16r)th.  1704— ^1»  2—10  Floreal— Paris — letter  from  the  Ameri- 
can citizen  Mountflorence,  to  the  "  (Jomitu  de  Sulut  Public,"  handing 
extracts  from  a  ]Joston  paper,  announcing  that  there  was  a  revolution 
preparing  in  Louisiana  to  shako  off  the  Spanish  yoke,  and  to  follow 
the  impulsion  given  by  North  America. 

IGGth.  17G;>,  10th  June — Messrs.  Bienville  and  Salmon,  on  the 
commerce  with  Spain  and  the  cultures  of  the  colony. 

IGTth.  1701 — account  by  Mr.  Lamothe  de  Cadillac  respecting  the 
destruction  of  the  Indians  on  the  Huron  and  Erie. 

lt)8th.  1701,  10th  Sept. — letter  from  Mr.  do  Kerlerec  complain- 
ing of  the  insubordination  of  certain  officers,  &c. 

100th.  1710 — memorial  on  Louisiana;  means  to  take  for  protect- 
ing Louisiana  against  the  English  and  the  Spaniards. 

170th.  No  date — project  of  letters  patent  of  the  King,  cranting  a 
concession  to  the  West  India  Company,  for  thirty  years  ot  the  com- 
merce of  Louisiana  discovered  by  3Ir.  Dolasalle.  This  document 
must  have  been  written  in  1711  or  12  ;  it  grants  great  privileges  to  the 
company,  and  is  divided  by  articles. 

171st.  N*"  date — articles  rejected  from  the  above  project  of  letters 
patent  praj'ed  for  by  Mr.  Duche. 

172d.  1708 — memorial  on  the  formation  of  a  commercial  company 
in  Louisiana. 

173d.  1733 — letter  of  Messrs.  de  Bienville  and  Salmon  respecting 
a  Mr.  Claude  Jausset  dit  Laloirc;  the  iivst  born  Louisianian. 

174th.  1733 — ^lessrs.  Bienville  and  Salmon  on  the  interdiction  of 
the  Jesuits  in  New  Orleans ;  they  remonstrate  against  such  interdic- 
tion, and  regret  that  virtuous  men  should  be  removed  to  make  room 
for  the  di.ssolute. 

175th.  1733,  0th  March — letter  from  Mr.  Terrier  announcing  the 
transfer  by  him  of  the  government  of  Louisiana. 

170th.  1733,  28th  July — letter  of  3Iossrs.  Bienville  and  Salmon 
advising  the  receipt  of  the  classing  of  officers  by  the  minister. 

177th.  1733,  22d  Sept. — letter  from  the  same,  relative  to  the  mar- 
riage of  an  officer,  Mr.  Buissonniere,  with  a  Miss  Trudeaa_,  in  deflanco 
of  his  superiors. 

178th.  1733 — letter  from  Messrs.  Bienville  and  Salmon,  rolutivo 
to  the  "  Conseil  Superieur." 

179th.  1733,  30th  Sept. — memorial  complaining  of  the  irredeem- 
able paper  money  left  by  the  West  Indi>.  Company,  and  of  the  loss 
sustained  by  the  widow  of  a  ]Mr.  Elias,  director  of  the  "  concession 
of  law." 


mmti'  i»i 


■>s 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


i 

it 


180th.  lTo4,  April  Sd— Messrs.  tic  ]]ienvillo  ami  Salmon,  tlioir 
answer  to  the  proposal  of  a  paper  emission;  are  of  opinion  that  the 
King's  paper  would  enjoy  a  better  credit  than  that  of  the  West  India 
Company,  but  that  the  inhabitants  had  lost  so  heavily  by  the  omis- 
sions of  tliat  company,  t'  it  much  time  would  be  required  before  pap'jr 
currency  could  again  obtain  general  circulation,  and  that  to  attain 
such  an  end  it  would  be  requisite  that  the  contemplated  issues  should 
carry  with  them  undoubted  guarantees. 

IS  1st.  17;M,  2Sth  April— Mr.  dc  Bienville  on  the   subject  of  a 

petition  against  him. 

lS2d.  1734,  2Gth  April— letter  of  ]Mr.  do  Bienville  and  Salmon, 
on  the  subject  of  difficulties  regarding  the  rank  of  officers. 

18i5d.  Xo  date — necessity  for  a  larger  force  in  Louisiana;  pro- 
posal to  increase  the  number  of  soldiers  in  the  same  proportion  as  the 
English,  in  time  of  peace  as  well  as  in  time  of  war,  observing  that 
the  increase  of  the  I'nnch  navy  was  only  a  casus  belli  with  the 
English. 

184th.  1701,  3radrid  8th  and  10th  Dec. — letter  from  the  iMarquis 
J'Ossun  to  Mr.  dc  Kerlerec,  on  .the  preparations  to  be  made  in  case 
of  attack  by  tlie  English. 

185th.  AVithout  date — memorial  on  the  disastrous  effijcts  of  the 
nionopole  granted  to  the  West  India  Company. 

18(ith.  No  date — pro  formil  expenses  to  be  incurred  by  the  King 
in  takino;  back  Louisiana. 

187th.  Xo  date — memorial  representing  the  increase  of  population 
of  the  English  in  Canada,  and  the  necessity  from  its  neighborhood  to 
Louisiana,  to  lake  the  necessary  measures  to  prevent  its  loss. 

188th.  17:11,  2od  June — retrocession  by  the  AVest  India  Company 
of  its  privileges  to  the  King.  The  concession  extended  to  Illinois. 
TJy  tliis  document  it  appears  that  the  letters  patent  were  granted  by 


Edicts  in  August  and  September,  1717 
"  May,  1719 

«  July,  1720 

''     and  June,  1725 

180th.  Xo  date — proposal  by  the  .syndics  and  directors  of  the  West 
India  Company. 

190th.  Xo  date — project  of  ordinance  to  accept  the  retrocession  by 
the  West  India  Company. 

191st.  Project  of  deliberation  by  tlie  syndics  and  directors  of  the 


PORTFOLIO  NO.  IV. 


59 


"West  Tiidiii  Company,  for  the  retrocession  of  the  privileges  of  the 
conipiiny. 

l!ii!d.  1700,  7  Dec. — IMr.  do  Roehcmore,  attributing  to  tlie  agio 
of  depreciated  currency  tlic  wretched  condition  of  Louisiana. 

lO.'M.  17SS,  '27th  March — document  whereby  it  woukl  appear  that 
Mr.  do  Vilhirs,  commissioner  of  Louisiana  for  the  King,  had  ad(h-essed 
him  to  the  following  effect  under  date  of  i27th  March,  17:^8.  "  That 
General  Wilkinson,  one  of  the  largest  proprietors  in  the  new  State  of 
Kentucky,  had  come  down  to  Louisiana,  giving  to  .mderstand  to  the 
administrators  of  the  colony,  that  the  adjoining  United  States  had 
come  to  the  determination  of  forcing  a  passage  tlu'ough  the  Missis- 
sippi, the  navigation  of  which  to  remain  hereafter  open  to  both  coun- 
tries, but  that  he  had  obtained  of  them  to  suspend  their  movements 
until  his  return." 

On  the  other  hand,  Messrs.  Vincent  and  IMarbois  observe  that 
people  are  in  great  error  if  they  think  that  Congress  can  entertain 
.such  ideas,  that  the  population  of  the  western  country  can  only  in- 
crease at  the  expense  of  the  13  Eastern  States,  these  States  possess- 
ing really  only  a  border  country  of  aJ)out  100  leagues  on  the  ocean. 

l!)4th.  1772,  loth  Feb.— claims  of  the  "  Ferinicrs  Generaux"  on 
the  merchants  of  Louisiana  for  arrears  of  duties. 

10r)th.  1716 — instructions  of  the  King  to  Messrs.  I'Espinoy  and 
Hubert,  "  commissaire  ordonnateur,"  respecting  Louisiana. 

lOOth.  172:5,  Paris— letter  of  Mr.  de  Purry  to  the  Duke  of  Bour- 
bon, on  Louisiana.  Mr.  de  Purry,  from  Neufchatel,  Switzerland,  had 
been  l>irector-goneral  of  the  West  India  Company,  in  whose  service 
he  remained  for  five  years ;  he  had  come  to  France  on  the  invitation 
of  Law.  This  letter  is  full  of  interest,  and  shows  great  ability;  ho 
presents  a  plan  of  colonization  which  would  have  been  adnnrablo ; 
places  great  stress  upon  the  culture  of  the  silk  worm,  ^c, 

197th.  No  date — answer  to  the  observations  made  on  ]Mr.  Purry's 
letter. 


PORTFOLIO  NO.  IV. 

insth.  1709,  1st  Sept.— Statement  by  Aubry  of  the  rebellion  in 
Louisiana ;  copy  of  his  correspondence  with  O'lleilly,  whenhy  it  is 
evident  that  it  was  on  his  information  that  the  followiu<i;  gentlemen 
were  arrested,  to  wit : — 

Messrs.  de  la  Freniere,  Procureur-deueral. 


Hi 

1- 

i 

ill 


ii 


t/ 


60 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


■  i... 


Mr.  Hardy,  Asscpscur  au  Conscil. 

Mr.  Mazan,  a  reformed  captain,  and  Chevalier  dc  St.  Louis. 

Mr.  Marquis,  reformed  Commandant  of  the  Swiss  Company. 

Mr.  Noyan,  reformed  Captain  of  Cavalry.    ,    ^  ••  ' 

Mr.  Caressc,  Captain  of  3Iilitia. 

Mr.  Milliet,  Captain  of  ]Militia. 

]Mr.  Milhet,  Lieutenant  of  3Iilitia. 

Mr.  Poupet,  jMerchant. 

Mr.  Petit,  3Ierchant. 

Mr.  Doncet,  Lawyer. 

Mr.  Foucault,  Ordonnateur. 

Aubry  hands  to  the  French  minister  a  copy  of  his  letter  to  Go- 
vernor O'Keilly,  under  date  '20th  August,  17G9,  denouncing  the  above- 
named  person.?,  as  also  Mr.  Yillere,  who  he  states  had  joined  the  rebels 
on  the  tlOth  with  400  men  from  the  Acadian  coast,  thereby  in- 
creasing the  force  in  the  city  to  1000  men,  under  the  direction  of  La 
Freniere.  "  3Iille  projects,"  says  IMr.  xVubry,  "so  sont  succedes  lea 
uns  aux  autres ;  on  a  eu  le  dessein  d'erigcr  le  pays  en  Republique  ; 
on  a  prescnto  au  conseil  une  requete  pour  y  (jtablir  une  Banque,  a 
I'imitation  de  celle  d' Amsterdam  et  do  A'enise ;  car  ce  sont  les  pro- 
pres  termcs  dont  ils  se  sont  servis." 

199th.  August  28th,  1769 — proces  verbal  of  the  arrest  of  Foucault 
by  3Iessrs.  Aubry  and  B.  de  Grand  Maison ;  F.  E.  de  Mazilliere  and 
JolmTrudcau;  seals  affixed  by  the  Notary  Garic  on  all  effects  be- 
longing to  said  Foucault ;  papers  relative  to  the  conspiracy  delivered 
to  Governor  O'Eeilly. 

200th.  Proces  verbal  by  the  Notary  Garic  of  the  estate  of  Fou- 
cault. 

201st.  27th  August,  17G9 — proclamation  of  General  O'Reilly,  an- 
nouncing the  promulgation  of  the  Black  Code  or  Edict  of  the  King, 
for  the  government  and  admini.stration  of  justice,  police  and  discipline, 
and  the  commerce  of  black  slaves  in  Louisiana.  In  the  same  procla- 
mation, Messrs.  Fleurian  and  Ducros  are  presented  as  judges. 

202d.  1709,  21st  August — General  O'lleilly  announces  a  general 
pardon,  save  the  chiefs  of  the  rebellion,  who  are  to  undergo  their  trial. 

203d.  1709,  19th  August — copy  of  a  letter  from  General  O'lleilly 
to  Governor  Aubry,  asking  information  on  the  rebellion ;  the  names 
of  the  chiefs,  &c.  &c. 

204th.  1709,  23d  August — letter  from  the  same  to  the  same,  ask- 
ing all  information  and  papers  of  whatsoever  nature  in  his  possession, 
in  order  that  the  chiefs  of  the  rebellion  might  be  convicted. 


i/. 


i 
'I 


t/. 


PORTFOLIO  NO.  IV. 


(11 


20r)tli.  170!*,  '24(li  Au;j:u.st — copy  of  the  answer  of  Mr.  Aubry  to 
Clovernor  O'lifilly,  giving  all  the  inforniation  required,  together  with 
the  niimes  of  the  k'a<lers.  The  Chevalier  d'Arinsbourg,  eommandant 
of  the  Acadian  coast  was  among  the  niuuber. 

(N.  ]J.  Mr.  d'Arinsbourg  was  saved  through  the  intercession  of 
Mr.  Forstall,  under  whoso  uncle  General  O'lleilly  had  served  in  the 
regiment  of  Ilibernia  in  Spain.) 

'2(M;th.  1750 — discovery  in  Louisiana  of  a  flint  mine  (crystal)  ; 
the  place  made  a  secret. 

*2()7th.  17G(,i,  7th  Sept. — ordinance  of  Gcvcrnor  Aubry  in  the 
name  of  Governor  Ulloa,  ordering  all  invoices  of  goods  to  be  de- 
livered, that  the  value  of  such  goods  might  be  regulated ;  and  making 
paper  money  legal  tender. 

•208th.  1 7()f),  12th  Hept — protest  of  the  merchants  and  inhabitanta 
of  Louisiana  against  the  above  ordinance,  signed  as  follows  :  IJ.  Du- 
plessis,  IMoulin,  Jean  Mercier,  Jr.,  Petit,  J.  Yienne,  Blache,  Toutant 
I'eauregard,  laurel.  Rose,  J.  Seuilh,  Duprest,  Bienvcnu,  (ioumigu, 
Ilevoil,  Voix,  L.  Ducrest,  I).  Brand,  Guezillc,  Brafjuier,  Papion,  Bra- 
quier  Jeunc,  J.  Boudet,  Doraison,  St.  Anne,  P.  Carcsse,  Cavelier 
FrOires,  Ilinard,  P.  Poupet,  Broussard,  Kevoisc,  Durand,  Estebe,  J. 
Lafitte,  cadet,  Jean  Souvaistre,  K.  Bodaille,  Cantrelle,  Astura,  Brunet, 
Fournier  and  St.  I'e,  Dumas  and  Gricunnard,  Rodrigue,  fils  ainC', 
Louis  Ransom,  Testas,  Moullineau,  P.  Segond,  P.  Guignam,  A.  Bois- 
dore,  L.  Boisdore,  G.  Guignam,  Chateau,  Sarpy,  Detouvit,  Ville- 
franche,  Salomon,  P.  Simon,  E.  Hughes,  Macmara,  J.  Arnoult,  J. 
Sarrou,  Dubourg,  Durand,  Cadet,  Ducarpe,  B.  Gaillardie,  Raguet,  J. 
Nicolas,  Jh.  Millet,  Delapizc,  Brion,  Bertn^'^mieux  Aine,  Blandin  Du- 
lestre,  A.  Reynard,  Fortier,  Blaignad,  Bijon,  L.  Daubech,  Langlois, 
I\[.  Duralde,  Bourjeaux,  IM.  Bonnemaison,  Joly,  F.  Hcry,  Forstall, 
B.  Lenfant,  A.  Olivier.  This  protest,  certiiied  by  Fuucault,  is 
couched  in  most  energetic  language. 

209th.  10th  Sept.  17GG — protest  of  the  captains  of  vessels  against 
Aubry's  ordinance. 

210th.  28th  August,  176G — memorial  of  Foucault  to  Governor 
Ulloa. 

211th.  20th  Jan.  17G8 — letter  of  Governor  Aubry,  giving  an  ac- 
count of  his  government  jointly  with  Governor  Ulloa,  who  for  want 
of  troops  cannot  take  possession  of  the  country. 

212th    17<)8,  20th  Jan. — letter  of  Mr.  Aubry  on  the  same  subject. 

2iyth.  17G8,  4th  Jan. — copy  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  Aubry  to  hi? 


\k\ 


1^: 


)■ , 


02 


lEISTOHK'AL  roLLKCTIOXS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


Excolloncy  General   ILinliiiiim,  Governor  of  Pensacola,  for  his  J>ri- 
taiinic  ]Miijesty,  (leinaiidiiig  UO  Spanish  deserters. 

214th.  lT(i!^,  llth  Nov. — remarks  of  Mr.  Aiibry  on  the  rebellion 
uf  houisiaiia. 

2ir)th.  17<')8,  14tli  Dec. — protest  of  Gov.  Aubry  again.st  the  ordi- 
nanees  of  the  superior  eouneil. 

21(ith.  1738 — memorial  re.specting  marriages lietween  Indians  and 
whites. 

217tli.  172() — memorial  cm  Louisiana,  pointing  out  the  manner  of 
plaeing  the  eolouy  on  solid  foundations.  This  paper  signed  by  3Iessr!?. 
Drouot  and  Valentin,  contains  valuable  statistical  information. 

218th.  1724 — memorial  on  the  culture  of  tobacco. 

21!)th.  Xo  date — memorial  suirirestiii";  the  establishment  of  a  float- 
ing  battery  at  the  IJalize,  signed  "  JJertrand." 

220th.  1719,  10th  July — details  of  a  mining  expedition  iu  the 
neighborhood  of  Kaskasias.     This  paper  is  signed  "Terry." 

221st.   172;J — memorial  on  the  means  of  upper  Mississippi. 

222d.  17(»;> — correspondence  between  (Jolonel  Kobertson,  com- 
manding 3Iobile  for  his  Britannic  [Majesty,  and  Governor  d'Abaddie. 
This  part  of  Louisiana  was  ceded  to  I'lugland  by  the  treaty  of  Paris, 
of  loth   February,  17Go,  the  seventli  article  of  which  reads  thus: — 

AuT.  7. — The  river  and  the  port  of  3Iobile,  and  the  left  bank  of 
the  31ississippi,  New  Orleans,  and  the  islands  oi\  which  it  is  situated 
excepted,  arc  ceded,  &.c. 

22l)(l.  20th  Bee. — letter  from  Governor  Aubry  to  his  government 
respecting  the  Louisiana  rebellion;  he  states  that  ho  cannot  express 
himself  freely,  that  he  can  trust  no  one,  not  even  his  own  Secretary, 
lest  he  should  be  treated  in  the  same  manner  as  Ulloa. 

224th.  17G8,  28th  Dec. — remarks  of  jVubry  on  the  Louisiana 
rebellion. 

22r»th.  17G8,  8th  March— letter  of  Mr.  Aubry  on  the  rebellion, 
enclosing  copy  of  a  letter  by  him  addressed  to  Mr.  Baccalary,  Governor 
of  Havana. 

22Gth.  17()o,  20th  Oct. — proces  verbal  of  the  transfer  of  Mobile 
by  the  French  government  to  the  English  government.  This  docu- 
ment is  signed  "  Derville,  Farende,  llobert  Fanuar." 

227th,  17G3,  Oct.  20th. — proclamation  of  Kobert  Fanuar,  on  his 
taking  possession  of  3Iobile,  and  of  all  that  part  of  Louisiana  situated 
on  the  left  hand  or  eastei'n  bank  of  the  river  Mississippi,  from  its 
source  down  to  the  river  d'llerville,  thence  across  Lakes  Maurepas 
and  Poutchartrain  to  the  sea. 


m 


I 


roivnvn.io  so.  \ 


roim'uLio  NO.  v. 


G.J 


228th.  17-21,  r.th  Sept.— by-laws  of  the  "Wewt  ImUa  Company,  fo: 
tho  govcrnmL'Ut  uf  Louisiana,  approvod  liy  the  Kiii^. 

22!>th.  1721,  2d  Hopt. — rules  by  tho  sumo  company  to  cnrnurage 
the  culture  of  tobacco,  rice,  and  the  introduction  and  education  i>f 
.lilk-worms. 

2;!(Uh.  No  date — report  on  the  Indians;  extracts  from  (lOveruor 
de  Vandreuille's  correspondence,  announcing  a,  treaty  of  peace  with 
the  Chactas,  u  nation  counting  4001'  warriors,  and  occujiyiiig  an  ex- 
tent of  country  exceeding  40  leagues.  This  document  must  have 
been  written  about  the  close  of  17-11'. 

2olst.  1701,  <)lh  .March — extract  of  ;i  letter  from  Mr.  de  Kerlerec 
to  tiie  Marquis  d'Ossun,  complaining  of  the  conduct  of  tho  govorn- 
nicnt  of  Camiieachy  towards  French  vcs.sels  that  had  entered  that  port 
in  distress,  whilst  on  a  voyage  from  New  Orleans  to  Havana,  for  as- 
sistance on  behalf  of  tho  colony. 

2;j2d.  17<51,  Oct.  :5d,  St.  Ildephon.so— letter  from  the  Marqui.- 
d'Ossun,  informing  3Ir.  de  Kerlerec  of  instructions  given  to  the  gn- 
verument  of  Mexico,  Havana,  I'ensacola,  and  of  all  other  Spanish  pos- 
sessions in  behalf  of  all  French  vessels ;  speaks  of  the  ])rojccts  of 
I'^ugland  to  obtain  pcjssession  of  Mexico,  and  of  the  necessity  of  re- 
taining Louisiana  as  tho  best  means  of  defeating  their  plans. 

2.jod.  1701,  10th  Jan. — letter  from  3Ir.  de  Kerlerec  to  the  ^lai- 
quis  d'Ossun  complaining  of  the  silence  of  his  Court ;  propo.^es  to  u>e 
ciphers  for  their  correspondence. 

2o4th.  1701,  ;>lst  Oct.  Escurial — memorial  from  the  French  am- 
bassador respecting  the  impossibility  to  supply  Louisiana  with  the 
assistance  needed,  all  French  vessels  being  captured  by  the  I'^ngli.'-h  ; 
points  out  the  common  interest  of  Spain  and  France  in  I'etaining 
Louisiana ;  suggests  a  depot  in  Havana,  Campeachy,  and  other  neigh- 
boring ports,  of  provisions,  fire-arms,  and  munitions  of  war,  to  be 
within  reach  of  New  Orleans  whenever  required.  All  such  prijvisious 
aud  other  articles  re(iuired,  to  be  paid  fur  by  the  French  govern- 
ment. 

2o5th.  1703,  9th  July — decree  by  the  '"'conseil  superieur  de  la 
Louisianc,"  forbidding  the  introduction  of  slaves  from  St.  Pomingo, 
poisi.niing  being  common  in  that  island  among  tlu'  nei:roe?. 


•s  i 


<)1  niSTORtCAIi  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 

2.'5r.tli.  ITaS,  l'2tli  Si'pt.—l.'ttcr  from  Mr.  Mii-liol  "  Onloiinatcur" 
to  tho  ininistor,  C()iiii'l;iiniiiL;  of  tlio  want  of  proptir  offii-crs  fur  tlic 
*'  con.'^oil  Huiit'ricur,"  and  ln'iriring  the  government  to  Hupply  the  eolony 
with  two  }■(  ting  engineers  unci  one  Hurveyor. 

2.'>7th.  I'l  /J,  Fob. — letter  from  Mr.  do  Viiudreuil  to  the  minister 
advi.sing  the  capture  by  a  Spiinish  "  (Jardc  Ootc,"  of  tho  French  ves- 
sel "  I'Ktoile,"  iind  demanding  her  restitution. 

*2;if^th.  1  7"'  1,  -1th  July — letter  from  iMr.  de  Kerleroc  and  d'Auber- 
ville,  announcing  tlio  arrival  of  families  from  liorniine,  sent  by  go- 
vernment ;  speaks  favorably  of  those  families  whom  thcyadvi.se  having 
placed  in  the  parish  "des  Alleman<ls." 

230th.  1754,  0th  July— Mr.  d'Auberville  to  tho  minister  with  the 
budget  of  the  colony  for  1704,  and  a  list  of  all  officers  employed. 

240th.  1754,  21st  8ept. — Messrs.  do  Ktrlercc  and  d'Auberville 
to  the  minister,  ri^^juesling  the  government  to  send  two  minors  to  work 
the  mines  discovered  in  Illinois,  lead  and  copper. 

241st.  1(552,  22d  Sept. — Mr.  Michel  to  the  minister  with  full  re- 
ports on  the  condition  of  the  countrj' ;  gives  interesting  details  oa 
the  culture  of  cotton;  the  difficulties  to  separate  the  seed  from  the 
•wool;  of  a  gin  invented  by  Mr.  Dubreuil  j  tho  culture  of  tobacco, 
rice,  indigo  and  the  commerce  of  peltries ;  the  advantages  that  might 
be  obtained  by  irrigation  of  tho  land,  in  dry  seasons,  and  the  renova- 
tion of  the  lields  by  introducing  the  water  of  the  Mississippi  on  old 
lands,  &c.  &c. 

242d.  1753,  9tli  March — Mr.  d'Auberville  to  the  minister,  show- 
ing the  necessity  of  rebuilding  the  government  house ;  announcing  the 
death  of  IMr.  Michel,  and  the  situation  of  the  treasury  on  that  day. 

243d.  1735,  31st  August — Messrs.  Bienville  and  Salmon,  im- 
provement in  the  management  of  the  militia  hospital  since  placed 
under  the  care  of  the  Ursulines  ;  complains  of  medicines  furnished  by 
government. 

244th.  1731,  10th  Jan.— letter  from  Mr.  Dirou  d'Artaguette  to 
the  minister  defending  himself  against  charges  brought  by  Governor 
Perrier ;  interesting  details  of  his  wars  with  the  Indians. 

245th.  1728,  8th  Dec. — Mr.  Dirou  to  the  minister,  on  the  situa- 
tion of  the  country  of  Mobile. 

246th.  1739 — Chicachas  war;  details  of  the  forces  sent  from 
France. 

247th.  173C),  28th  June — Messrs.  de  Bienville  and  Salmon,  in- 
teresting details  on  the  Chicachas  campaign ;  the  retreat  of  Mr.  de 
Bienville  with  544  men  under  his  command. 


li 


PORTFOLIO  NO.  V. 


G5 


"A 


''2i'<th.  17')!,  12th  Jan. — Mr.  do  Vauilreuil  to  tho  iiiinistor,  aii- 
nouiicin*^  tho  termination  of  tho  war  with  tho  ('hactas;  Ikmts  I'nr  tin 
cross  of  St.  liouid  for  Captain  do  (Jrandpre,  as  a  rowurd  f(,ir  tho  .sor- 
vico.s  rondorod  by  him  during  tlio  la.st  campaign. 

2l!Uli.  17-1),  --d  Hopt. — (jhicaohas  war;  oxpoditiun  from  V'rancc. 
500  men ;  detail  on  tho  projected  campaign. 

SoOth.  17ol,  nth  Dec. — Messrs.  Perrier  and  Sahiion,  announcing 
tho  recording  in  tho  minutes  of  tho  "  conseil  .superiour,"  of  tho  Ictter.i 
patent  of  tho  King  respecting  tlio  retrocession  hy  tlio  West  Indi.i 
Company  of  all  their  privileges  in  liouisiana;  interesting  stuti.-tieal 
statements  and  other  document.s,  showing  the  true  condition  of  the 
colony  at  that  epoch. 

iiillst.  17o0,  0th  June — Mr.  Dlrou  d'Artaguctto,  announcing  the 
failure  of  tho  expedition  of  Mr.  do  IJienville,  at  tho  head  of  l.')(io 
men  including  his  allies,  against  tho  Cliicaehas. 

2r)2d.  1731,  20th  April — Mr.  Dirou  d'Artaguctto,  details  ou  the 
Indian  war ;  calls  for  aid. 

2r)3d.  1702,  Jan. — letter  from  tho  King  of  Franco  to  Mr.  do  Kev- 
lercc,  in  which  ho  states  "  by  the  preliminaries  of  peace  agreed  upon 
at  Fontaiubloau  ou  tho  3d  Nov.  last,  having  ceded  part  of  the  prn- 
vinco  of  Louisiana  to  tho  King  of  England,  1  have  resolved  u])Oii 
coding  tho  other  part  to  my  cousin,  tho  King  of  Spain."  Tlien  fol- 
lows aa  order  for  the  delivery  to  England  and  Spain  of  the  whole  of 
the  province,  iu  accordance  with  tho  limits  fixed  upon  in  the  said 
preliminaries. 

2r)4th.  17G2 — instructions  of  tho  King  to  Mr.  d'Abbadio  regard- 
ing tho  delivery  of  Louisiana  to  England  and  Spain. 

2.55th.  1731,  2-l:th  June — Dirou  d'Artaguctto,  announcing  new 
disorders  among  the  Natchez;  tho  murder  of  two  officers  near  tlie 
Arkansas ;  destruction  of  the  Tunicas  by  the  Natchez ;  calls  for  as- 
sistance. 

2.5Gth. — No  date — instructions  of  tho  King  to  IMr.  d'Abbadie,  re- 
garding the  artillery  and  munitions  of  war  at  Mobile.  This  letter 
must  have  been  written  in  1702. 

257th.  1721,  13th  Sept. — instructions  from  tho  West  India  Com- 
pany to  the  directors  and  sub-directors  in  iiOiiisiaiKi,  for  their  guidance 
in  the  management  of  tho  aifairs  of  the  Company. 

25Sth.  1719,  28th  Oct. — report  of  3Ir.  Hubert  on  Pensacola  ; 
Dauphin  Island;  Ship  Island  and  I'Ozagc ;  recommends  Ship  Island 
as  tlie  best  harbor  for  men-of-war. 

259th.  1721,  31st  Sept. — instructions  by  the  West  India  Company 
U 


Ifll 


I: 


uo 


IllsTCiIU<\\r,  COI.I.KCTInNS  iH'  I,()II<IANA. 


til  tlio  tliri'ctors  mul   siili-diivetdrs   in    Louisiana,  signed  in  I'arl-  liv 
"  iKiii.icliimlt  anil  l>nliini'." 

i:(i(ttli.  ITI'!,  l-'itli  Jul}' — inti'i'istitiLT  nunimial  by  Mr.  I'lulns  un 
IiOiii,.;iaMa,  including  tlio  cuuntry  of  Mubilo,  addivs-^cd  to  Count  I'uut- 
cliaitrain. 

*Jf»lst.  17 is,  'Jl.<f  .Tuni',  I'arirs — nietnorial  on  Tjoui-siana,  >ignnl 
"  li.  A.  lie  l)iiuili(iii,  lo  .Mart'i'lial  d'Kstroc?',"  jiar  lo  fonwil  "  Lacha- 
Itcllc." 

'riiis  nil  nmrial  is  I'ull  of  interest.  Franco  liad  then  in  view  the 
)K)s.sc'f>sion  of  tlio  wliiik!  of  North  Aniorica ;  to  iittnin  such  an  end 
Ijduiwiana  wan  considered  as  the  basis  of  the  whole  plan,  and  a  cidn- 
nization  nimn  a  large  jilan  was  rcconmiendi'd.  A  naval  depot  was 
sugL'csteil  on  Ship  Island  ;  a  general  plan  nf  I'urtiiicatii'ns  was  proposed 
fmni  I'ensacola  to  the  '*  JJaie  St.  liernard."'  The  English  phin  of 
coliinizatiiin  was  stmngly  recommended,  to  wit :  500  to  GOO  families 
at  a  time  provided  liy  govi'.rnnient  with  all  the  necessary  utensils,  cat- 
tle, &c.  kf.,  and  provisions  fur  one  year.  The  whole  to  be  returned 
by  the  parties  when  in  a  situation  to  do  so ;  none  but  good  peasants 
tn  be  sent  ;  the  plan  eomjireheiiding  the  Wabash,  the  Illinois,  the 
Vazoo,  the  31issouri  and  Natchitoches ;  the  worlcing  of  the  mines  of 
3Iissouri  proposed;  the  memorial  is  thus  concluded  : 

"  A  large  connnercc  can  be  carried  on  between  Mexico  and  Mis- 
ifouri.  Missouri  has  another  branch  nearly  as  important ;  its  scairce 
is  said  to  be  from  the  same  mountain  ;  it  is  believed  that  this  branch 
empties  itself  in  the  South  Sea.  The  Canadians  invited  in  those 
parts  would  soon  create  establishments  for  a  commerce  with  Japan 
and  China.  Such  would  be  the  importance  of  such  a  trade  that  the 
truth  of  these  reports  is  worthy  the  attention  of  government." 

'2&2d.  No  date — report  from  la  Kochelle,  announcing  the  depart- 
ure of  the  frigates  "  la  Vietoire  et  la  l>uchesse  de  Noailles,"  with 
570  men  for  Jiouisiana. 

•iOiSd.  1718,  21st  July — inconiiileto  memoranda  concerning  Mr. 
de  St.  Denis'  journey  through  the  lied  Kiver  to  ^Mexico. 

•2G-lth.  171o — Mr.  Crozat  informs  the  governinent  of  the  eflbrts 
(f  the  British  to  seduce  the  Indians  on  the  upper  Mississippi  and 
ir  the  Natchez  country ;  applies  for  two  Litiicers  and  40  men  for 
Illinois. 

2t')5th.  171G,  7th  Sept. — incomplete  memoranda  on  certain  changes 
proposed  for  iJauphin  Island,  and  the  Fort  St.  Louis  of  31obile  ;  in- 
structions to  be  given  to  tb.e  military  posts  in  Louisiana,  and  parti- 
cularly to  that  of  Alibamons. 


I'onTFoi.ro  NO.  V 


0" 


j'K'.di.  1711,  -Ith  Dot". — military  cstalili-lmu'nts  (posts)  iu  Loulr- 
iiilia  finUivd  by  tlu)  Kiii;.'  iu  a  k'ttor  untKr  this  tlatc. 

ll<i7tli.  17K),  -1st  July — uit'uiiiraiiiluui  on  tlio  UKtrus  tiilmcco,  jiiul 
;i  Irat'  uanii'il  ApiKilacliinc,  cnnsiilcrcil  a  .wpccilic  tor  tlic  -rout  and  tor 
tlio  stituc,  and  otluT  diseases,  by  tlio  ludians  of  Aplialaclu'.  Tlu>o 
iiu'ninniinks  nvj  by  Mr.  Lamntho,  who  strougly  rououiimuds  tho  iu- 
troductidu  of  silk  worms. 

llt»>'tli.  171(5 — iustruftious  tn  Mr.  dc  la  Mothc,  rc.^pccfin^'  tiie 
Wiirks  (111  I)anpliiii  Island,  i\:f.  ^v. 

•H\'.n\\.  171<1,  -1st  Feb. — Mr.  dc  la  .>lothc  on  tliu  discovery  of  e.  r- 
tain  mines. 

J7<itli.  17l>^,  3Iarc'li  1st — inventory  of  tlie  jmblie  stores,  i\;c.  \<-., 
in  the  Kinfr's  warehouses  in  Daujdiin  Island  and  in  Mnbile. 

271st.  17-1,  "Jd  Sept, — appniiitiiient  by  the  KiiiL'  of  the  Chi-valier 
Le  lijnnd  de  la  Tour,  as  Lieutenant-general  of  the  provinee  of 
J^ouisiana. 

:27'id.  Petition  of  the  West  India  (.'ompany  to  the  King,  praying 
that  by  letters  patent  of  the  l.")th  January,  17-1,  IMr.  Delaeliaise 
having  been  made  a  member  of  the  supreme  eouneil,  although  de- 
puted by  the  King  with  extraordinary  ]iowers  to  investigate  the  affairs 
uf  the  eompau}'  iu  Louisiana,  by  decree  of  Ids  Majesty's  council  of 
Sth  December,  17-2,  that  the  .said  Delachai.se  be  permitted  to  act  as 
honorary  couusellor  in  the  "  Conseil  de  Itegie  deuerale,"  and  in  that 
capacity  to  serve  the  company  in  the  furtherance  of  the  welfare  of  the 
colony.  This  petition  is  signed  by  the  directors  of  the  West  India 
Company  in  l*aris. 

27:!d.  172;J,  24th  April— letter  from  Mr.  de  IJienvillc,  dated  20th 
June,  1722,  announcing  the  order  of  the  Viceroy  of  Mexico  for  the 
cession  of  Pcnsacola  to  Spain.  This  letter  is  accompanied  by  the 
order  of  the  King  of  France. 

274th.  1724,  2^)th  Oct. — prices  fi.xed  for  merchandize  tendered  by 
the  inhabitants  in  payment  of  di'bts  to  the  AVost  India  Company. 

27otli.  1721 — documents  relative  to  the  beaver  trade  in  Canada  ; 
petition  against  the  monopoly  of  that  trade. 

27ntli.  172"i — sundry  letters  relative  to  the  war  with  the  "  J'c- 
nards. 

277th.  174o — ]Mr.  de  Vaudreuil's  account  of  the  situation  of  the 
colony  respecting  the  Indians. 

27*^th.  172(i,  7th  August — ordinance  by  Messrs.  de  Boisbriant, 
C'"'mmander-(reuoral  of  the  province  of  Louisiana,  and  Delachaise, 
"  Commissairc  du  Hoi,"   and  fir.st  Counsellor  of  his   Majesty  in  the 


'ir-- 


,; 


n  I'l 


i^ 


b-  HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 

"Conscil  Suporieur  tic  la  Iiogic;"  measures  to  bo  ailoptcd  in  consc- 
(lueiico  of  the  rupture  botweeu  Engliuvl  and  Spain. 

27!)tli.  17G5,  1st  June — printed  extracts  from  the  minutcri  of  the 
"  CoHficil  Supcrieur"  relative  to  the  Abbot  de  I'lsle  J)icu. 

2!^0th.  1755,  Paris,  2d  Sept. — printed  treaties  on  the  patent  letters 
to  the  Capuchins  of  Champagne,  concerning  the  missions  through 
Louisiana. 

2slst.  172'^  l-'jth  Hept. — articles  of  agreement  between  tlic  Ursu- 
iiucs  and  the  "West  India  (.'onipany,  for  the  service  of  a  military  hos- 
pital iu  New  Orleans.  These  articles,  to  the  number  of  28,  containing 
all  the  conditions  attached  to  certain  grants,  are  signed  by  "  I'Abbt 
Kagolet." 

282(1.  No  date — project  for  the  rctroces.«ion  of  Louisiana  by  the 
"West  India  Company  to  the  King. 

2!?3d.  1739,  25th  Oct.— memorial  of  the  Chevalier  de  Fabrau  on 
Louisiana,  wiiuout  interest. 

2S4th.  17-12 — agreements  consequent  to  the  retrocession  of  Louis- 
iana !■•    the  West  'ndia  Company  on  the  27th  3Iarch,  17ol. 

2S5tli.  No  du.v, — memorial  on  the  same  subject. 

28Gth.  1759,  6th  31arch — 31r.  Eochimore,  complaining  of  the  in- 
subordination of  officers. 


PORTFOLIO  NO.  VI. 

287th.  1731,  Oct.  30th— Ursuline  Convent  founded  in  1727;  me- 
morial of  Father  d'Avangeon  on  the  advantages  of  that  institution ; 
the  object  is  represented  to  have  been  the  education  of  young  girls, 
the  nursing  of  the  sick  as  '^  hospitalieres ;"  the  service  of  the  military 
hospital ;  prays  for  aid  in  order  to  increase  the  number  of  sisters, 
originally  G  to  12,  and  the  confirmation  iu  "  franc  alleu"  of  the  lands 
granted  in  Now  Orleans,  and  that  they  may  be  permitted  to  enjoy  the 
privileges  belonging  to  their  order  in  France. 

288tli.  17G4,  15th  Feb. — instructions  to  Mr.  d'Abbadie  respect- 
ing the  Jesuits,  which  instructions  are  stated  to  have  been  carried  into 
('fiict,  the  company  having  been  dissolved  and  their  estates  having 
been  sold  previous  to  the  receipt  of  the  letters  patent  of  the  King 
bearing  date  the  3d  June,  17G3. 

289th.  1724,  August — inspection  by  the  Louisiana  comtnittoc,  of 
tie  different  military  posts  of  that  colony,  to  wit  :  New  Orleans,  the 
Balize,  Biloxi,  Dauphin  Island,  Mobile,  Alibaraons,  Natchez,  Natchi- 


i 


1 


I'ORTl-OT.IO  NO.  M. 


19 


tociics,  Yazno,  Arkansas,  Illinois.  The  coinmittoo  rccomrat'iiil  the 
giving  up  of  tliG  military  posts  of  ]>iloxi,  I)auphin  Isluml,  ami  Ar- 
kansas. 

200tlj.  1741,  oOth  April — Mr.  de  ]}iouville,  intorestiug  aceou::! 
relative  to  the  Indians. 

291. st.  1,'tli  Sept. — report  of  Mr.  Duvergo,  concerning  (liircrint 
operations  intrusted  to  him  for  tlic  improvement  of  the  colony;  [we- 
scnts  a  plan  for  an  establishment  at  Ship  Island,  at  Alibamous,  and 
on  the  AVabasli ;  also,  but  on  a  smaller  scale,  at  Biloxi  and  in  Illi- 
nois ;  recommends  the  clearing  of  the  ^lanchac  of  trees  impeding  the 
navigation  of  that  rivulet;  proposes  a  road  from  Biloxi  to  the  lUinoi.s 
by  land ;  submits  a  plan  for  the  raising  of  silk  worms ;  speaks  of  a 
military  post  on  the  St.  Bernard,  i^c.  itc.  This  report  embraces  a 
complete  organization  for  the  government  of  Louisiana,  and  is  highly 
interesting,  presenting  large  views  on  the  commerce  and  agriculture  of 
the  country,  and  was  approved  by  the  directors  of  the  West  India 
Company  in  Paris,  on  the  loth  September,  1720. 

292d.  1727, 24tli  April — missions  to  be  supplied  by  the  Capuchins 
throughout  Louisiana. 

29;Jd.  17?^,  15th  Jan.— plan  of  the  fort  of  Natchitoches,  (signed) 
Broutin. 

294th.  1734,  25th  July — plan  of  a  large  portion  of  the  city  of  New 
Orleans,  (signed)  Broutin,  including  Toulouse,  St.  Peter,  St.  Anne, 
and  Dumaiue,  L'^veo  and  Conde  streets  ;  on  this  plan  are  indicated 
the  following  buildings  to  bo  undertaken  during  1734,  to  wit :  bar- 
racks, fronting  the  river  between  St.  Anne  and  Dumainc;  governmeut 
house,  fronting  the  levee,  between  St.  Peter  and  Toulouse;  die  cus- 
tom house,  (Intcndance,)  also  fronting  the  levee  between  Dumaine 
and  St.  Anne. 

295th.  1733 — plan  (signed)  "Broutin,"  elevation  of  a  building  to 
be  placed  on  the  top  of  a  wine  cellar  in  the  custom  built  in  1732. 

29(lth.  1733,  15th  Jan.— (signed)  "  Broutin,"  plan  of  the  powder 
magazine ;  on  this  plan  are  seen  the  dresses  of  the  inhabitants  of  that 
epoch. 

297th.  1733,  15th  Jan.— plan  (signed)  "Broutin,"  of  the  wall 
surrounding  the  powder  magazine. 

29Sth.  1733,  15t]i  Jan. — plan  (signed)  "  l>routin,"  side  view  oi 
the  powder  magazine  built  in  1732. 

299th.  1734,  12th  July— proces  verbal  of  Messrs.  do  Bienville 
and  Salmon  accompanying  the  above  plans. 

300th.  1734,  25th  July— plan  (signed)  "  Broutin,"  of  barracks, 


i| 


■•  M 


ill 


i 


i  ■ 

t' 

t; 

n  '^ 

r 

1 

8^ 

70 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


i^c,  to  bo    cvccted  during  1734,  between  St.  Annu  anil  Diimaiuo 
streets. 

:;OTst.  173o,  15th  .Alny— ;Mr.  de  Bienville  relative  to  the  Imlians; 
interesting  details  respecting  the  Natchez,  the  Chicachas,  etc.;  original 
letters  from  persons  inhabiting  among  those  nations  and  tl'o  Illinois ; 
the  Alibamons,  the  Natchitoches,  the  Talapcnches,  the  Chit  machas, 
the  Attakapas,  and  the  Loupelousas. 

'>n2d.  1734,  27th  July — Mr.  de  Bienville  on  the  Chicachas,  Natchez 
and  Chactas ;  interesting  details;  a  few  speeches  by  the  Indian 
chiefs. 

303d.  1734,  2r)th  Jan.— 3Ir.  de  Bienville  on  the  Indians. 

304th.   1733,  2(jth  July — the  .same  on  the  same  subject. 

30oth.  171l>,  Sth  Oct. — memorial  on  the  importance  of  colonizing 
Louisiana;  an  armed  cohmization  is  recommended  instead  of  soldiers, 
as  being  less  costly  and  more  useful. 

30Gth.  1733,  "lath  3Iay— plan  (signed)  "Devin,"  of  the  Fort 
Conde  at  ]N[obilc. 

307th.  1734 — memorial  on  the  necessity  of  colonization  in  Louis- 
iana ;  void  of  interest. 

308th.  1734,  Gth  April — Mr.  Perrier  on  the  movements  of  the  In- 
dians. 

300th.  1734,  20th  April— Mr.  de  Bienville  on  the  Indians;  ac- 
count of  a  battle,  kc. 

310th.  1732,  14th  May.— Mr.  Terrier  on  the  Indians,  and  of  the 
missionaries  among  them. 

.')llth.  1731,  ]  0th  Dee. — Mr.  Perrier  on  the  war  with  the  Natchez; 
the  situation  of  the  colony,  and  the  budget  for  1732,  &c.  cS:c. 

312tli.  1772 — petition  from  the  commerce  of  Bordeaux,  claiming 
a  continuation  of  franchise  on  goods  from  Louisiana  on  the  following 
grounds : 

1st.  Because  although  the  cession  of  Louisiana  to  Spain  by  treaty 
took  place  in  171)2,  it  was  only  publicly  known  in  France  in  1705. 

2d.  Because  the  King  of  Spain  only  took  possession  of  that  colony 
in  March,  17GG. 

;)d.  Because  the  revolution  of  17()8  and  176!)  in  that  country,  wa>* 
the  cause  of  most  of  the  agents  of  the  Bordeaux  merchants  being 
either  shot  or  sent  to  the  mines. 

313th.  1747,  Feb. — 3Ir.  de  Yaudrcuil,  murder  of  a  cadet  and  of 
a  soldier  by  the  Chactas ;  details  on  the  Indians. 

314th.  1747,  Jan. — Mr.  de  Vaudreuil,  on  the  Indians  and  the 
doinsis  of  the  Fno;lish. 


Ir-^ 


rORTFOLIO  NO.  VI. 


71 


oloth.  ]7o<),  li^tli  June — ]Mr.  do  Bcauclianip  culls  fur  a  corps  (if 
miners  and  boni'iardiers  to  carry  on  the  war  with  tin;  Chicachas,  whom 
he  represent.s  as  living  like  weazels,  in  cabins  resembling  ovens  partly 
under  ground,  and  communicating  with  each  other. 

olGth.  l(i-Jli,  '2ihh  3Iarch — memorial  of  Mr.  de  Merveilleux  on 
the  erection  of  a  fort  at  I'ascagoula,  recommended  by  ."Nlr.  J)ela- 
chaise. 

.'JlTth.  l";')!),  5th  July — proces  verbal  of  the  confiscation  of  the 
English  schooner  the  "  Tiiree  Brothers,"  commanded  by  Joseph 
Ijoull,  aged  3G  years,  belonging  to  Rhode  Island,  (signed)  1\ochemore. 

;]lSth.  1750,  11th  June — extract  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  |)nrand  to 
the  ]Marqui.s  of  Puyzenet,  dated  London,  speaking  (jf  the  (^)uakers 
and  of  the  Moravians,  in  the  highest  terms;  recommends  thein  for 
the  colonization  of  Louisiana ;  and  adds,  "  it  appears  that  Admiral 
Anson  was  intrusted  with  a  project,  wdiich  not  having  received,  its  exe- 
cution cannot  now  bo  fully  ascertained.  A  plan  found  in  the  papers 
of  King  "William  the  Third  shows,  however,  that  that  princi  had 
conceived  the  idea  of  taking  possession  of  the  Isthmus  of  Darien,  and 
by  the  mcani  of  the  river  running  nearly  tlirough  from  one  sea  to  the 
other,  to  open  communications  between  the  fleets  in  the  Atlantic  and 
South  Seas,  granting  at  the  same  time,  commissions  to  all  privateers, 
for  the  purpose  of  annoying  the  French  and  Spanish  commerce, 
and  of  gradually  keeping  the  latter  power  in  the  dependence  of  Eng- 
land." 

olOth.  1722,  0th  Xov. — 3Ir.  de  Bienville,  handing  a  speech  made 
by  him  to  the  Indians. 

;]20th.  \o  date — coup  d'ocil  on  Louisiana,  by  ^Ir.  Bofjiievante, 
wherein  he  endeavors  to  show  the  advantage  of  the  fur  trade  on  the 
Canadian  plan. 

321st.  No  date — project  for  the  guidance  of  the  military  "com- 
mandants" tc"   rds  the  Indians  in  Louisiana. 

.■>22d.  1740,  2Stli  June — memorial  of  jlr.  Duvcr"-!';  relating'  to  the 
discovery  of  the  road  from  New  Orleans  to  the  upper  country,  through 
the  Chicachas;  the  whole  is  very  interesting  and  contains  about  100 
pages. 

y2:Jd.  1731,  l(5th  .Maivh— letter  from  I^Ir.  Be^'is  a  lloullet  on  the 
Indian  war. 

32tth.  1733,  ]Oth  March— plan  (signed)  "Broutin,"  elevation  of 
tlie  T'rsulinos  Convent. 

325th.  1733,  iDfh  March — other  view  of  the  same  building. 

S20tb.  173;],  l,^t  .■Nlay— plan  of  a  military  hospital. 


I  ill 


I'i  !i 


72 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOULSIAXA 


;>27th.  1731,  21st  Feb.— letter  of  Mv.  llegis  de  Iloullet  on  the 
Indian  War. 

o^Stb.  1723,  od  May — interesting  documents,  containing  the 
speeches  of  several  of  the  leading  Indian  warrior.s,  asking  the  pardon 
of  a  soldier  condemned  to  deatli. 

329th.  1 732,  9th  July — plan  of  the  parish  church  of  New  Orleans, 
l)rieks  between  posts,  (signed)  "De  15at." 

330th.  172(J,  22d  rian. — di.scussions  between  the  Jesuits  and  the 
AVest  India  Company,  void  of  interest. 

331st.  1719 — history  of  a  journey  in  the  interior  of  Louisiana,  by 
licrnard  dc  la  Ilarpe,  containing  a  memorial  for  assistance. 

332d.  174(1 — paper  on  the  Indians. 

333d.  1730 — project  of  a  private  letter  from  the  West  India 
(!ompany  to  Mr.  Perrier,  respecting  the  English  and  Spaniards  in 
Louisiana. 

334th.  1740,  29th  August— Mr.  de  Bienville  on  the  Chicachas 


■war. 


335th 


1740,  31st  Oct. — Mr.  de  Bienville  on  the  ,'amc  subject. 

33Cth.  1733,  8th  Sept. — Mr.  de  Bienville  renders  an  account 
of  the  situation  in  which  he  has  found  the  colony  respecting  tho 
Indians. 

337th.  1733,  25th  Jan.— 3Ir.  dc  Bienville  on  the  Indians. 

;j38th.  1731,  25th  March — relation  by  31r.  Perrier  of  the  defeat 
I  if  the  Xatchei!. 

339th.  1717 — memorial  on  Louisiana,  of  little  interest. 

340th.  1721,  4th  Oct.— letter  from  Messrs.  de  Bienville,  Le  Blond» 
Latour  and  Duverge,  respecting  Mr.  Laharpe's  relation  of  his  voyago 
to  the  Bay  of  St.  ]?eiuard. 

341st.  1720 — letter  from  Mr.  de  la  Ilarpe,  accompanying  the  his. 
tory  of  his  discoveries.     This  letter  is  dated  Paupliiu  Island. 

342d.  1759,  Jar  3d — memorial  on  the  functions  of  Civil  Engl* 
neer  and  General  Surveyor. 

343il.  17GG,  July  9th — letter  from  IMr.  Aubry  explaining  the  rea« 
sons  which  have  induced  Governor  Ulloa  to  delay  taking  possession 
of  Louisiana. 

344tli.  1707,  11th  Jan.— letter  from  tlie  Puke  of  Choiseul  to 
3Ir.  Aubry,  approving  the  continuation  of  his  government  for  tin? 
King  of  Spain  ;  the  latter  paying  all  expenses. 

345th.  1749,  2d  Jan.,  Paris — copy  of  a  letter  from  the  Count  do 
3Iauropas  to  31essrs.  de  Vaudreuil  and  3Iiehel,  o.i  the  culture  of 
indigo. 


*"'  ^iinifliffiTi 


TORTFOLTO  NO.  VII.  7iJ 

34Gtli.  ]7o0,  1st  August — ]\Ir.  IVrvier  nn  the  Indiiiu  war. 

347tli.  ITl^Ci — di.scus.sious  between  tlie  Je.'^uit.s  ami  tin:  \\'i.'st  India 
Company. 

l>4Sth.  17'V'^,  22(1  Jan. — Foucault  to  the  minister,  innijilaining  dl' 
the  (lifllculty  of  bis  position,  and  referring  to  his  joint  cunimunit'ution3 
with  Aubry. 

o-lOth.  1735,  15th  April— Mcs.sr3.  de  Bienville  and  Salnmn,  on 
commerce  and  agriculture.'. 

350th.  174-1,  10th  Feb. — paper  on  the  Indians. 

351st.  1743,  August — Mr.  de  A'audreuil  report  on  Alubile. 

352d.  No  date — memorial  on  Louisiana,  disapproving  the  emission 
of  paper  money  by  the  administrators  of  the  colony  ;  demoralization 
which  must  flow  from  such  emissions. 

353d.  1754,  Gth  Nov. — Mr.  de  Kerlerec  on  the  Indians. 

354tli.  1748,  Jst  Oct. — ]Mr.  de  Vaudreuil  on  the  same  subject. 

355th.  1743,  Dec Loubrcy,  Commandant  of  Mobile,  on  the  In- 
dians. 

350th.  1743,  July— Mr.  do  Bienville  on  the  Indians. 

357th.  1714 — memorial  of  Mr.  Crozat  for  the  rai>ing  of  troops 
for  Louisiana. 

358th.  1707,  25th  Oct. — pamphlet  containing  extracts  on  the  fol- 
lowing subjects  : 

No.  1.  America  civilized. 

Nos.  2  to  7.  Prophecy  on  America ;  the  nnmufaotures  of  North 
America  destined  to  destroy  the  supremacy  of  Creat  Britain. 


PORTFOLIO  NO.  VII. 


S59tli.  1708,  20th  Jan.— letter  from  3Ir.  Aubry  explaining  the 
extreme  difficulty  of  his  position,  compelled  as  he  wa.s,  being  a  French 
Governor,  to  govern  for  the  King  of  Spain ;  Covernor  UUoa  with 
only  ninety  soldiers  not  deeming  it  prudent  to  receive  possession  of 
the  colony. 

300tli.  1707,  20th  Jan. — agreement  between  Aubry  and  Ulloa,  by 
which  the  former  consents  to  defer  the  delivery  of  liouisiana  to  the 
latter,  both  in  the  mean  time  governing  the  colony. 

3Glst.  1707,  30th  March — Mr.  Aubry  expressing  his  desire  for  the 
Hrrival  of  Spanish  troops  in  order  to  give  up  the  goveninuint  of  Louis- 
iana;  states  his  joint  action  with  Ulloa  in  all  neces-^ary  measui'esj 
complains  of  Libia's  quick  temper,  &c.  &c» 


ill 


<  n  ' 

m 


74 


irisTOTnrAL  fOLLrx'TioNs  of  LorrsiAXA. 


'.MV2i\.  ITOl),  1:0th  April — instructions  to  3Ir.  Aubry  for  tlio  ces- 
sion itf  Li'ui.-fiiina. 

o'loil.  17i)'"),  .jOtli  Si'pt.--Auliry  iiTinnnncos  sonio  (listurluinees 
luuDiiii'  tlic  Piikanas  in  tlie  ncigliburiiuoil  of  Illinois,  ami  an  expedition 
headed  by  V.w  de  LavillebaHivro,  an  oilieer  well  acquainted  with  the 
Indian  language,  against  a  party  of  Indians  who  had  made  themselves 
masters  of  property  and  cabins  belonging  to  the  I"]nglish  on  the  Iber- 
ville. The  delivery  of  the  property  by  the  Indians  to  3Ir.  de  Lavillc- 
b(euvre  ;  speaks  of  the  dilHeidties  arising  from  the  occupation  by 
three  nations  of  the  same  river. 

8(i4th.  1 705,  10th  .^ept. — letter  from  Aubry  to  Clovernor  Johnston 
of  3Iobile  ;  explaining  his  ditricnlt  position  regarding  the  Indians; 
promi--es  his  l)est  efi'nrts  to  maintain  peace. 

o(!.")th.  1705,  '>lst  August — instructions  of  3Ir.  Aubry  to  'Sir.  de 
Lavillelxeuvre  as  commandant  of  an  expedition  against  the  Alibamons, 
for  the  purpose  of  demanding  property  seized  by  them  on  the  Iber- 
ville, and  belonging  to  the  English. 

300th.  1701,  15th  Jan. — Mr.  Aubry,  explaining  the  difficulties 
encountered  by  3Ir.  d'Abbadio  on  the  part  of  the  English  at  Tom* 
beclcbe  and  Alibamons,  &.c.  &c. 

307th.  1704 — copies  of  speeches  of  Messrs.  d'Abbadio  and  FarmeS 
to  the  Indians. 

SO^-^th.  1705 — words  of  the  Troquois,  Loups,  and  Chonans  from 
Fort  Duquesno  (Pitt),  by  a  Loup  chief  accompanied  by  two  warriorH 
carrying  25  scalps,  (Hnglish.) 

300th.  1709— answer  of  3Ir.  do  Noyan. 

370th.  1703,  3d  Sept. — IJlack  Code  of  France  put  in  operation. 

371st.  1770),  Madrid,  8tli  July — instructions  respecting  the  per* 
mission  granted  for  the  exportation  of  timber,  provisions,  &c.  itc,  fof 
the  relief  of  the  French  Islands. 

372d.  1777,  '20th  April — letter  from  Mes^rs.  d'Aunoy  and  Villars 
to  the  I-'rencli  government,  announcing  the  sei;:ure  by  Governor  Gal« 
vez  of  1 1  English  ships  richly  laden  and  inoored  opposite  to  some  of 
the  plantations,  and  his  defence  to  the  planters  under  heavy  penalties 
to  carry  on  any  traffic  with  the  English. 

373d.  1777, 17th  Oct. — answer  of  the  minister  to  Messrs.  d'Aunoy 
and  Villars  inviting  them  to  continue  their  communications 

374tli.  1780,  Versailles,  10th  Feb. — letter  from  Mr.  de  VergusneS 
on  the  subject  of  a  French  vessel  seized  in  the  Mississijipi,  and 
correspondence  with  the  Spanish  government  to  the  same  effect. 

375th,    .-l/(  10th,  Paris,    Sth  Theruiidor — refutation   by  General 


PORTFOLIO  NO.  VIT. 


( .) 


]Milfi)i'(l  TartiUiiLry  of  nii  urticlc  in  tin' (lazLtfo  do  I'raiico,  rt'c'iiiiiiienil- 
iiiLT  tliL'  cession  of  Louisiana  to  the  I'liited  Stiites.  liouisiaiia  liciiig 
there  represented  as  a  narrow  strip  of  ninviiig  samls,  marshes,  and 
bo^'s,  ote.  etc. 

o7<;th.  No  date — memorial  on  Lower  Louisiana,  from  llierville  to 
the  sea.     A'oid  of  interest. 

HTTth.  170U,  '2:!d  May — !Mr.  Aubry  f)n  tlie  rebellion  and  the 
demoralization  produced  by  paper  money ;  states  the  interference  of 
jMr.  Ltifreuierc  to  prevent  further  disturbances;  hands  the  following- 
documents. 

oT^'th.  17G9,  Feb. — extract  from  the  registers  of  the  "oonseil 
Ruperieur"  containing  transcript  of  a  letter  ilatt'd  J*ort  au  IVince,  IJth 
February,  1700,  and  signed  St.  Lcger,  in  the  name  of  the  "conseil 
souverain"  of  that  place,  approving  the  rebels  in  driving  out  of  tl'.e 
country  ( ioveruor  Ulloa,  and  of  another  letter  from  the  Doyen  of  the 
council  of  ]'ort  au  I'rince  couched  in  nearly  the  same  words. 

o7!>th.  All  10th,  27th  Fructidor,  Paris — letter  from  ^Ir.  Laussat, 
Colonial  Prefect  of  Louisiana,  submitting  several  questions  to  the 
government. 

880th.  No  date — sounding  of  the  coast  of  Florida;  the  Tortugas; 
of  St.  Piose  Island  ;  of  Peiisacola  and  of  [Mobile,  by  !Mr.  do  Iberville, 
from  ions  to  IGO'.t;  at  the  IJalize  in  17''j3  to  G  and  7;  pas.-<e  a  la 
Tjoutre  I").}  feet;  soundings  of  Ship  Island  in  17!'^  by  3Ir.  de  Iber- 
ville, also  of  the  Chandleur  Islands;  bay  of  St.  IJernard  in  1720^ 

S^ilst.  Paris — questions  upon  whieh  the  attention  of  the  govern- 
tiient  is  particularly  called.  Tliey  appear  to  liave  been  propounded 
t»3*  Mr.  Laussat;  the  reimbursement  to  the  ])lanters  of  paper  money 
issued  by  the  Spanish  governniiut,  and  amounting  to  $800,000,  form 
part  of  these  queries. 

S82d.  Xo  date — memorial  advisini.'  the  French  republic  to  demand 
fhc  cession  of  Louisiana. 

oSod.  1750,  2Sth  .Ua!(h — memorial  on  Louisiana;  projeo'.  pro- 
posed for  the  colonizatiim  of  that  jirovince  by  i>ertrand  Duvernet,  on 
condition  of  a  grant  of  40  leagues  of  land  (jn  both  sides  of  the  river 
from  the  city  of  New  Orleatis  xqi. 

;>'4th.  1731,  August — observations  on  two  circumstances  con- 
sidered as  favorable  to  the  improvement  of  Louisiauaj  this  document 
is  not  without  interest. 

38;jth.  17G5  to  17GS,  No,  1  to  170_letters  of  Mr.  Foucr.ult  to 
the  mini-^ters^  rehitive  to  the  administration^ 


i 


V,'' 


76 


IIISTOUICAL  COLLKCTIONS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


i\\ 


,1  vW 


oS'Otli.  1700,  '2'2i\  1>('C. — ix'iiortrf  of  Mr.  J)iivorgcr,  cliicf  mginfor, 
to  ^Iv.  Andry  on  furtilications  directod  liy  liini. 

887tli.  17G1,  8tli  .hiu. — letter  t'roui  Mr.  llocheuioro  iiielo.'iing  copy 
of  tho  instructions  to  }\i\  Aubry,  and  reporting  ou  the  fortilie;itiuns 
intrusted  to  that  ofTieer. 

o^iSth.  1700,  1st  August — memorial  on  Louisiana;  nnUility  of 
that  colony  for  France. 

38'Jth.  1731,  .Jan. — Mr.  do  Porrier,  movement  of  the  Indians  in 
Louisiana  since  the  capture  of  tho  Natchez  Fort. 

oOlUh.  1759 — trial  and  o(>  itiscation  of  the  Enirlish  scliooncr 
"Throe  Brothers,"  to  he  continued. 

oDJst.  1708,  16th  Dec. — Mr.  Aubry  speaks  of  the  disturbances 
iu  Louisiana,  and  expresses  his  fears. 

39i!d.  No  date — memorial  touching  the  retrocession  by  the  "West 
India  Company,  to  the  King  of  France.     Uninteresting. 

0!Jod.  1700,  1st  June — llochimorc,  conveying  statements  of  pre- 
sents made  to  tho  Indians. 

394th.  1708,  20th  Jan. — Mr.  Aubry  respecting  tho  cession  to 
Spain;  incloses  copy  of  correspondence  between  Governor  Ulloa  and 
him.     A'oid  of  interest. 

oOoth.  1753 — extracts  of  letters  from  3Icssrs.  dc  Kerlerec  and 
Foucault  to  the  government,  uninteresting;  matters  of  administra* 
tion. 

390th.  1753,  23d  Nov. — project  of  alliance  with  tho  Canices  sub- 
mitted to  Mr.  dc  Kerlerec. 

o97th.  1710 — ^^journal  of  the  expedition  against  tho  Natchez. 
Very  interesting;  the  expedition  was  headed  by  jMr.  de  Bienville. 

39sth.  1712 — dilFerent  projects  granting  to  Mr.  Crozat  tho  esclu* 
sive  commerce  of  Louisiana  during  15  years. 

399th.  1752,  30th  Sept.— memorial  of  Jlr.  Dubronil  Villars  ro. 
lative  to  the  agriculture  of  Louisiana. 

400tli.  1772,  13th  Sept.— letter  from  Mr.  Fazende  to  ministers 
stating  the  reasons  which  had  prevented  his  accompanying  the  account* 
rendered  by  him. 

401.';t.   1741,  17th  March — memorial  on  tobacco. 

402d.  1750 — memorial  on  Louisiana,  and  project  for  the  cultiva* 
tion  of  tobacco  on  a  large  scale. 

403d.  1703,  23d  Nov. — process  verbal  of  the  delivery  fif  tlij 
military  post  of  Tombeckbo  to  Lieutenant  Thomas  Ford. 

404th.  1704,  10th  Jan. — Mr.  d'Abbadic  advises  the  deliver/  (O 
the  ]']nglish  government  of  jMobile,  &c. 


I'OtTrFoi.ro  NO.  virr. 


1 1 


roiiTFOiJo  NO.  vrir. 


405tli.  No  date — iiiemorial  cmitaiuin;,'  tliu  lii.«t(iry  of  L";'.i,'iia7i:i; 
since  its  discovery  by  Lasallo  in  1(182.  It  appears  that  iiutliiiii.'  wim: 
douc  until  after  the  peace  of  J'erwiel:.  ]Mr.  (ribcrvillo  at  that  cpnch 
was  intrusted  with  a  new  oxpeditinn,  and  was  acconipanicd  by  hi.-? 
brotlier,  Mr.  de  ]>ienville,  wlio  remained  in  that  ci^lnny  a.s  LiciUfnant- 
(iovernor  until  171-,  when  iMr.  de  la  iAluth.e  (,'adillac  took  eliarge  of 
the  government,  having  been  appointed  (bivornor  in  the  room  of  Mr. 
Dunierry,  who  had  died  during  hi.s  passage  from  Franee.  Mr.  Croxat 
on  the  14th  k^eptember,  M\'2,  olituined  by  letters  patent  of  i!h:  ^'^'"g- 
the  exclusive  privilege  of  the  eonum  rce  of  the  colony;  this  jirivih'ge 
Mr.  Crozat  gave  up  in  1717,  and  in  August  of  the  same  year,  tlic 
same  exclusive  privilege  was  granted  by  letters  patent  to  the  "West 
India  Company,  that  compan}*  having  been  established  by  an  edict  of 
the  King  at  the  same  time;  this  latter  privilege  was  granted  fi>r  25 
years,  to  wit :  from  the  1st  January,  1 7 1 S,  to  the  first  I)e('emb<;r,  1 S12, 
and  included  the  fur  trade.  Tlie  whole  of  tliis  document,  which 
ap'pears  to  have  been  written  about  the  year  17o0,  is  interesting. 

40Gth.  No  date — memorial  on  the  same  subject  showing  the  neces- 
sity fif  a  retrocession  of  the  privileges  of  the  "West  India  Conipaiiy  to 
the  King. 

407th.  2?A  Nov.  ]7.'j'2 — highly  interesting  letter  from  the  "mission- 
naire,"  Mr.  II.  P.  Baudoin,  on  tlio  Tcliactas  nation,  dated  from  their 
Tillage  of  Tchicachce. 

408th.  No  date — memorial  on  Louisiana;  Indian  war;  miserable 
;onditiou  of  the  colony. 

400th.  1740,  28th  June — memorial  of  Mr.  Dubreuil  on  t^e  sub- 
ject of  a  canal  undertaken  by  him  one  league  above  New  Orleans, 
tnd  of  the  great  advantages  that  may  be  derived  from  the  whole  ot 
♦he  Barrataria  district. 

410tli.  No  date — uninteresting  memorial  on  Louisiana. 

4nth.  No  date —         do.  do.  do. 

412tli.  17r)7,  1st  June — memorial  on  liouisiann,  showing  its  ait* 
Vantages  to  France. 

41ath.  No  date — notes  on  the  preceding  memoir. 

414th.  No  date — memorial  on  the  Indians  of  Louisiana;  thciv 
lumber,  and  the  commerce  that  can  be  carried  on  with  them. 

415th,  No  date — memorial  on  the  same  subject,  and  very  full. 


11 


(I 


I)     n 


9t^i 


I 


78 


TIISTOKK'Ar,  ror.r.KrrUiNS  of  I/tlTSIANA. 


■llOtli.  \i»  (l:it( — iiiuiiKuial  cMiitMiiiiiii^  ii  (IcscriiitioiMif  liouisiana, 
of  its  jMirts,  (if  its  f^oil,  "f  its  rivers,  of  tlu;  Indian  nations,  and  imint- 
in^^  out  tlu!  ^Tcat,  advanta^riis  to  be  dorivcd  by  folonizatiiui.  Tliis 
paper  is  evidently  of  a  very  aneient  date. 

■UTth.  No  dati — L'eueral  ideii  toueliin;^  tlie  mode  of  ereatin.?  a 
coniMiorco  for  Louisiana ;  the  autlior  refers  to  Mr.  de  JJieiiville,  tli(,-n 
in  I'aris. 

distil.  No  date — memorial  on  Louisiana,  to  render  lliat  col'iuy 
flouri.sliing ;  this  paper  appears  to  have  been  drawn  up  fjr  the  West 
India  Company;  it  is  interesting. 

dlOtli.  No  ilate — menmritl  to  iinhice  I'raneiJ  to  retain  Louisiana; 
speaks  of  the  several  (diniates,  and  of  tiio  faeilities  with  wliich  it  iiiiglit 
be  made  to  supjily  I'ranee  with  silk,  tobacco,  ^c.  A:c.,  and  cotton. 

ll-'Oth.  Memorial  on  tlie  importance  of  Louisiana;  void  of  interest. 

!"Jlst.  No  date — letter  from  Mr.  IJaron,  complaining  of  Ciovernor 
Porricr. 

■I'J'id.  No  date — memorial  on  Louisiana;  contains  some  interest. 
ing  details.  Tliis  paper  appear-  to  liave  been  written  liy  Mr.  de  Ker- 
lorec. 

-['I'ld.  1749 — project  for  tlie  cuhivation  of  tobacco  in  Loui-siaua^ 
and  the  trade  in  timber,  by  .Mr.  Fal>y. 

42  tth.  No  date — memorial  pointing  out  tlie  necessity  of  (ixing  tlia 
limits  between  Canada  and  Louisiana. 

425th.  17-tS,  2d  Nov. — 3Ir.  Michel  opposing  the  reunion  of 
Canada  and  Louisiana. 

42<)th.  174G,  2Sth  August — ^^journal  of  the  voyage  of  a  Majnp 
Jjcauchamp  of  Mobile,  to  the  Tchactas  nation,  by  order  of  'Mv.  do 
A'audrcuil,  to  deniand  satisfaction  for  the  murder  of  three  I'renchmen. 

427th.  1747,  28th  March — oliservations  of  3Ir.  Augeas  ou  tho 
difierent  soils  bordering  on  the  ^Mississippi. 

428th.  1740 — memorial  ou  the  situation  of  the  colony.  Tliis  papef 
is  drawn  up  with  a  good  deal  of  care. 

420tli.  1754 — memorial  from  ^bssrs.  Kerlercc  and  d'Auberville^ 
recommending  a  floating  battery  at  the  I'alize. 

4-U)th.  1750 — memorial  on  the  situation  of  the  inhabitants  of  Louis- 
iana, and  of  the  advantages  to  he  derived  by  an  importation  of  nogroci* 
to  be  employed  in  the  cultivation  of  tobacco. 

4olst. — 1749 — situation  of  Louisiana;  a  poor  production. 

4o2d.  1750,  12th  C^ct. —  letter  from  Jlr.  Livaudais  on  the  changes 
produced  in  the  passes  by  ecpiinnxial   gales;  in  the  month  of  July 


I'KltTFOLlo  N(t.  VIM. 


::) 


<!o.  ;  giving  ;iii  ;iccn\int  of 


this  I'DgiiKHi'  -.(ales  tin;  juissi'S   to   liiivo   Ixcii  S.  S.  !']..  ai,i|  N.  N.  W., 
itinl  at  lln'  time  lie  \v:h  i>i'iiniiij^  liis  [••■purf  they  wiTi-  I'l.  aiil  W. 

I'i'Id.   I7')l,  l")tli  Nov. — Mr.  (If  la  lluiilant'  (ni  liOiiisiaiiii. 

!.'!ltli.  17;")l,  loth  Sr]it. — iia|ici' iVmu  .Air.  iHivciyt',  jinliitirij^  out 
tlif  iiL'iL'.s,>i(y  of  having  laiidiiiarks  at  tlu!  IJali/d  for  vo.»>^{ls  (-oiirmg 
in;  iilan  proposcil  Ky  him  uimI  iiininivdl  hy  .^Ir.  dr  Kfiloni'. 

4;jr)tli.  ITll''^,  l">th  Ati;.m.st,  I'aris — Mr.  Cntutiiziir  to  Coiint  dc 
^laurcjias,  ]iroj)osiiiu-  tliu  forni;itioii  of  a  coinpaiiy  in  lionisiaiia. 

■t;](itli.    I  Toll — very  ahli!  mcniorial  on  the;  culturu  of  tohiicco. 

loTtii.  ITU — pajnr  rulutivi!  to  the  advantages  tho  j)ulilio  .^frvico 
might  di'i'lvi!  from  tlio  timlu;r  on  the  IJarrataria. 

4o8tIi.  Xo  date — mcniurial  of  wlitit  wouM  ]>c  rL'([uin'd  hy  Lniiis- 
iana  ;  void  of  interest 

•l.j'.Hh.  17<)4,  7tli  Ajiril — Mr.  Anhry  announcing  the  delivery  to 
(Ireat  lirituin  of  the  portion  of  .Louisiana  ceiled,  and  ini;ntioiiing  the 
failure  of  an  expedition  to  Illinois  by  the  l-lnglish. 

44Uth.  1701,  l.'ith  Hee. — letters  in  cipher  of  3Ir.  di;  Kerleree 
representing  the  miserahK;  condition  of  the  colony. 

4-tlst.   17<;2,  loth  Teh.—       do. 
the  Indians. 

4  t_  .   1701,  !^th  -June — 

44;!d.   1701,  8th  3Iarcli— 

444th.   1700,  21st  Dec.— 

445th.  1702,  2sth  April — letter  from  31r.  do  Kerlerec  on  the  dif- 
ficulty of  his  position  with  the  lOnglish  Indians. 

440th.  170;],  2od  Oct. — letter  from  de  Kerlerec  on  the  firmalities 
required  for  tho  evacuatiou  of  31obile. 

447th.  I70;j,  2d  ]May — Mr.  de  Kerlerec  acknowledging  receipt  of 
tho  King'.s  ordinance  announcing  cessation  of  hostilities  with  the 
Knglish  ;  speaks  of  the  Indians  who  have  sacriiiced  their  all  to  the 
French,  and  who  will  liad  themselves  deprived  of  jiresents. 

448th.  1702,  24th  June — Mr.  de  Kerlerec,  letter  in  ci[iherd  com- 
plaining of  frauds  by  tho  peTsons  supplying  the  King's  stores. 

44l)th.  1st  31areh,  1705 — ^Iv.  Aubry,  on  the  conduct  of  the  In- 
dians towards  the  lOiiglish  ;  copy  of  a  sjieech  of  the  Chaouauau  chief 
tiamed  Chariot  to  Mr.  d'Abbadie. 

45Uth.  1705,  12th  31arch — Mr.  Aubry  on  the  diilieidty  of  his 
position,  it  being  impossible  to  satisfy  at  the  same  time  the  Indians, 
the  English,  the  Spaniards,  and  the  French  congregating  in  New  Or- 
leans. 

451st.  1705^  Gth  May — copy  of  a  letter  from  'Sir.  Ht.  Ange,  com- 


do. 

.!o. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

,^"^ 
V^.^^' 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


1.1 


liilM    12.5 
*^  1^    12.2 

I   U&    112.0 


i 


1.8 


1.25  1  ..4    1  ,.6 

^ 

6"     

► 

Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


^ 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


V- 


^A^ 

^4^ 


¥ 


<\ 


.   c> 


80 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


niarnlant  of  Illinois,  rogartling  the  bad  disposition  of  tlio  ludiuus  to- 
^val•d.s  the  Mndisli ;  inclosos  several  Indian  speeches. 

4b'ld.  171)5,  Kith  May — }ilr.  Aubry,  inclosing  copy  of  Mr.  St. 
AuL'o's  communication. 

lood.  17G.3,  10th  Jul}' — 31r.  Aubry  speaks  of  a  cessation  of  ho.s- 
lilities  between  tlie  English  and  Indians  at  Illinois;  inclosing  several 
Indian  sjteeclies. 

451tli.  ITG'J,  2(ith  July — 31r.  do  Kerlerec  in  ciphers,  speaks  of 
the  dillieulty  cf  his  position  with  the  Cherokee  Indians. 

45r)th.  ]7<!7,  -7th  Jan. — Mr.  Aubry  states  that  the  I'ritish  have 
taken  possession  of  Illinois;  proces  verbal  of  the  delivery  of  that 
section  of  Louisiana. 

45(»th.  1 7  lo,  -.')th  Oct. — mcmorird  submitted  to  the  Count  de  Pont- 
cliartrain  by  Mr.  Duclos  on  Louisiana ;  this  paper  contains  a  good 
deal  of  statistical  information,  and  a  historical  account  of  the  begin- 
ning of  the  colony;  100  pages. 


rORTFOLIO  NO.  IX. 


4.'37th.  1759,  27th  Jan. — memorial  on  Louisiana,  proposing  to 
favor  the  emigration  from  Canada. 

458tli.  1741,  4tli  Oct. — Messrs.de  Bienville  and  Salmon,  handing 
the  report  of  Mr.  l)uvergt'  on  the  Balizo  ;  of  the  changes  at  different 
epochs ;  refers  to  several  charts  I  have  not  been  able  to  discover ;  this 
document  is  interesting. 

459th.  1725 — memorial  on  the  navigation  of  Illinois. 

4G0th,  172'-' — extract  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  Perrier,  rcfrardinif  the 
munitions  of  war  supplied  by  him  to  the  Spaniards  of  St.  Augustine, 
and  the  means  by  him  taken  to  prevent  the  English  interrupting  cul- 
tivation. 

401  St.  1700,  17th  Dec. — Mr.  do  Rochemore,  on  the  sugar-cane, 
cultivated  by  the  Jesuits  in  1744,  in  their  gardens. 

402d.  1724,  20th  May — report  on  the  mine  "  dc  Lamotho,"  dis- 
tant 14  leagues  from  Kaskassia. 

4n.'3d.  1780,  13th  Feb.— letter  from  Tdr.  I'abro  Daunoy  to  the 
French  government,  announcing  the  expedition  of  !Mr.  dc  Galvez  at 
the  head  of  two  thousand  men  for  Mobile,  whero  he  is  said  to  expect 
a  reinforccmont  of  two  thousand  more  from  Havana,  the  whole  of  the 
furce  then  to  march  against  Pensacola;  advising  the  capture  of  the 
P>ritish  possessions  on  the  Mississippi. 


PORTFOLIO  NO.  IX. 


81 


tv 


40  ttb.  1 752 — preliminary  articles  of  peace  between  the  French 
ami  the  (lierokoes,  prepared  by  Mr.  do  Kei'lerec. 

lli.nh.  No  date — speech  of  I'oudiak,  an  Indian  chief,  to  .Mr.  do 
No\au;  in  the  same  paper  are  several  other  speeches. 

4t)(Jth.  17(54,  15th  Jan. — correspondence  of  Mr.  d'Abbadie  on  the 
cession  of  iNIubile. 

4<)7th.  1700 — complaints  of  ]Mr.  Uochemore  against  Messrs.  de 
Kerlercc  and  de  Macarty. 

40Nth.   171)0—  do.  do. 

4(i!tth.  17;i7,  21st  Feb. — letter  from  ]Mr.  dc  Crcmont  announcing 
his  arrival,  and  giving  some  details  on  the  colony. 

47i)th.  170H — correspondence  of  Mr.  d'Abbadie  on  the  difficult 
po.sition  of  Mobile  towards  the  Indians. 

471st.  17G;>,  Kkh  Dec. — project  of  operations  between  Louisiana 
and  Canada ;  void  of  interest. 

472d.  1704 — four  dispatches  from  Mr.  d'Abbadie,  on  the  diffi- 
culties oncouutered  in  Mobile  with  the  Indians;  correspondence  on 
this  subject. 

47;>d.  1704 — correspondence  of  3Ir.  d'Abbadie  on  the  same  sub- 
ject ;  encloses  copy  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  John  Stuart  of  Illinois,  com- 
plaining of  munitions  of  war  being  supplied  the  Indians. 

474th.  1727,  loth  Nov. — Mr.  Perricr  on  the  situation  of  the 
Colony. 

475th.  1702 — Memorial  on  Mobile  and  the  Mississippi  plan  of 
Colonization. 

470th.  1749 — ^Ir.  do  Vaudreuil  rcjiuers  an  account  of  the  situa- 
tion of  the  Colony. 

477th.  1741,  25th  Jan. — Mr.  de  IJeauchamp  on  the  Indian  wars. 

478th.  1742,  15th  March — M.  DuvergC'  handing  his  "feuille  de 
service." 

479th.  1742,  18th  February  and  2^<th  March— Mr.  de  Bienville 
giving  an  account  of  the  situation  of  the  Colony. 

480th.  1742,  13th  Feb. — Mr.  Salmon  announces  the  aUack  on  a 
convoy  ascending  the  Illinois,  by  the  Indians. 

4i^lst.  No  date — Mr.  Perrier  announces  the  defeat  of  the  Natchez. 

482d.  1731,  5th  Dec. — Messrs.  Perricr  and  Salmon,  on  Louisiana 
and  Illinois,  details  on  the  mines  and  agriculture. 

4s8d.  1097 — project  of  colonization  on  the  3Ii:-sipoippi.  This 
document  is  highly  interesting. 

4>*4th.   1759 — Mr.  llochemuro,  relative  to  his  administration. 

mm 


,,#«^ 


1 


';1 


m 


•  li. 


82 


niSTORICAIi  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


480th.  1742,  '24th  March — Messrs.  ile  Bienville  and  Salmon. 
Report  ou  the  wax-tree. 

4<Sr»th.  1 705, 2il  Aug. — Mr.  Foueault  regarding  reproaches  addressed 
to  Mr.  d'Abbadie  for  having  granted  an  exclusive  privilege  to  five  or 
six  uicrchant.s  of  trading  with  the  Tndian.s.  States  the  reasons  which 
had  induced  3Ir.  d'Abbadie  to  introiluce  letters  of  Exchange  on 
France;  adds  that  he  had  approved  both  measures  which  the  misera- 
ble condition  of  the  Colon}  had  rendered  of  an  ab.solute  necessity 
that  a  friendly  intercourse  might  be  kept  up  with  the  Indians. 

487th.  1  7'')1,  •24th  June — Mr.  Diron  Dartaguette  giving  an  account 
of  an  attack  l)y  the  Natchez  on  barges  ascending  to  the  Arkansas  and 
of  the  destruction  of  the  Tonicas  on  the  13th  June  by  tlu.'  Natchez. 

4SSth.  No  date — memorial  on  liouisiana,  showing  that  the  first 
cstablitliment  in  Louisiana  was  at  ^foljile,  where  a  fort  was  built; 
the  next  sit  liiluxi,  wlicre  are  two  copper  mines;  and  then  at  New 
Orleans.  IJarrataria  is  represented  as  a  valuable  section  for  its  tim- 
ber. The  autlior  says  that  at  Natchitoches  near  the  village  of  Cad- 
daquioux  is  to  be  found  a  very  rich  silver  mine,  the  produce  of  which 
had  been  tried  by  a  Portuguese,  named  Antoiue,  a  miner  from  3Iexico. 
lie  speaks  of  the  cmigratiim  to  Louisiana  of  Canadian  families  in 
1G8G;  states  that  in  1(590,  3Ir.  d'lberville  arrived  with  another 
colony  of  (^anndians,  wdiich  was  followed  by  other  families  headed  by 
a  Mr.  Du  Tessenet;  the  emigrants  came  by  land,  first  ascending  the 
St.  Laurent  to  the  lake  Erie,  then  ascending  a  small  river  emptying 
itself  in  that  lake,  to  the  pi>rtaij<>  f/cs  mlmnh;  their  effects  being 
thence  transported  by  the  Indians  to  the  river  Miamis,  where  pi- 
rogues, out  of  a  single  tree,  and  large  enough  to  contain  30  persons, 
were  built  for  the  voyage  down  the  3Iississippi,  first  descending  the 
Oyo.  The  author  further  points  out  the  high  lands  of  ^Llnchac  as 
the  best  place  for  a  city,  and  New  Orleans  as  a  place  of  deposit;  the 
■whole  of  the  document  is  interesting. 

480th.  175!),  13th  Oct. — Mr.  lloohemore,  giving  an  account  of 
the  trial  of  the  English  sloop  Texel,  from  Jamaica  with  a  rich  cargo, 
and  of  her  condemnation ;  states  that  Mr.  dc  Kerlerec  had  notwith- 
standing this  trial  released  the  vessel. 

490th.  1750,  13th  Oct.— the  same  subject. 

491st.  1G85,  August — Mr.  de  Beaujeu,  on  the  expedition  of  La- 
sallc  which  terminated  his  life;  advises  the  minister  to  apply  to  Mr. 
Dcmanillc,  a  priest  of  the  Sen)inary  of  St.  Sulpice,  for  information, 
he  as  well  as  himself  having  formed  part  of  Lasallc's  expedition. 

492d.  No  date — account  of  the  defeat  of  Major  Dartaguette,  of 


m 


PORTFOLIO  NO.  IX. 


83 


'^ 


hi:5  ilciitli  and  of  tliat  of  40  of  !iis  menj  uinong  wlidiu  there  wore  17 
or  is  (illicLTs;  the  French  'let  lehmcnt  was  c'liiijio.seil  of  |:l'l  nun,  o^ 
Iroqiioi.s,  ;',s  Arkiin.sas,  l!lO  iUiuoi.-i  and  Miami,  in  all  lilMJ  men. 
The  expedition  left  Illinois  on  the  ::iOth  February,  IToO,  reached  the 
Chieaehas  country  on  tiio  24th  [March,  a'ld  attacked  them  (ju  the 
same  day;  they  were  abamluned  by  the  Illiuois  and  Miami,  which 
compelled  Dartaguetto  to  retreat,  hence  the  defeat  aud  heavy  h).''S 
su.stuined. 

4!»od.  17150,  iJCth  May — interesting  account  by  Du  Tertrc  of  the 
attack  of  the  French  to  the  numlier  of  7  to  SOO  men  of  the  furtiiied 
village  of  tl»e  Chicachats,  on  a  hill  at  about  200  leagues  from  New 
Orleans.  The  French  being  defeated  with  a  Id.ss  of  120  men;  firtifi- 
catidus  described;  surrounded  by  limber  one  cubic  foot  placed  circu- 
larly with  three  rows  of  loopholes;  the  Chieaehas  were  bedded  to 
the  .stoiuaeh  in  the  earth,  observed  the  greatest  silence,  and  suffered 
the  luvnch  to  approach  within  good  musket  .shot  before  flring;  their 
first  fire  killed  00  nwn,  the  second  ."iO,  \-c. 

4!)4th.  17IJ3,  l!)th  March — plan  of  the  Ursuliues  Convent,  (^sigued) 
"Broutin." 

4!t0th.  17:54,  10th  March— plan  of  Mobile,  (signed)  "Deviii." 

49(>th.  1702 — objections  to  plan  proposed  by  3Ir.  d' Iberville,  to 
invite  the  Illinois  and  Scioux  to  emigrate  to  the  Mississippi. 

407tli.  1702 — memorial  on  the  Mississippi  and  Mobile;  reasons 
of  Mr.  d' Iberville  for  giving  the  preference  to  31ubile;  among  otheis 
the  impossibility  of  forming  a  military  establishment  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Mis.sissippi;  population  of  Mobile  130,  to  wit:  0  officers,  24 
sailors,  2  couriens,  14  workmen,  04  ('anadians,  20  soldiers. 

40Sth.   1741,  0th  May — interesting  report  of  Mr.  Duverge,  civil 


of 


409th.  1740,  0th  ]May — Mr.  Duverge  on  his  discovery  of  a  road 
from  New  Orleans  to  Illinois,  through  the  Chieaehas  nation;  com- 
plains of  the  treatment  of  certain  officers  towards  him. 

000.  1738,  20th  April — ^journal  of  Mr.  Duverge  during  his  voyage 
to  recognize  the  Chieaehas  road;  accompanied  by  a  plan,  which  is 
not  to  be  found. 

501st.  1730,  10th  Sept. — Mr.  Duverge  complaining  of  the  con- 
duct of  the  government  towards  him. 

502d.  1734,  4th  May — 3Ir.  Duverge  complaining  of  being  with- 
out commissi(m  as  engineer. 

003d.  1733,  9th  August — Mr.  Duverge  on  the  Bamc  subjecf  ;  all 
bis  letters  possess  more  or  less  information. 


84 


HISTORICAL  COLLKCTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


I 


r.Ottli.  17'in,  IMlli  Sopt— Mr.  de  Bienville  on  the  Indians. 
ijUath.    17i51,  •>(Hh   .N'ov. — nioniorial   of  Mr.    St.    Doui.s,   on   the 
nuans  to  jirott-ct  the  country  agaiuat  the  insults  of  the  Indiana,  kc; 
Void  of  interest. 

."iOOth.  n.'H,  oOth  Nov.— Mr.  St.  Deni.s,  bitter  complaints  of  the 
aliiindonment  of  the  colony  by  the  government. 

r»07th.  17;{(),  'Jllth  May—Mr.  do  IJienville  on  the  Indians. 

r)OSth.  11  oi^),  10th  Sept. — Messrs.  de  IJiouville  and  Salmon  on 
the  Indians. 

r)0!)th.  1730— do.         do.  on  the  Chicaehas. 

510th.  1745,  1st  April — Mr.  de  Laye,  presenting  a  plan  of  cam- 
paign against  the  (^hicachas,  and  to  destroy  their  fort. 

51 1th.  1750 — memoranda  for  the  King,  extracted  from  the  corre- 
spondence of  Mr.  de  A'^audreuil  on  the  Indians. 

512th.  1759,  30th  June — correspondence  between  Messrs.  Roche- 
moro  and  do  Kerlerec,  on  the  necessity  of  emitting  paper  money  to 
pay  the  ofFicera  of  the  King. 

513th.  No  date — miserable  condition  of  the  colony,  plans  proposed; 
mere  repetitions. 

514th.  1720 — agreement  with  3Ir.  IJasiu,  a  miner  and  a  drawer; 
memoranda  of  tools  rccjuired  to  work  the  mines. 

515th.  1720 — memorial  on  the  changes  it  would  be  advisable  to 
make  in  the  administration  of  the  West  India  Company;  this  docu- 
ment is  interesting,  as  it  shows  the  whole  organization  of  the  com- 
pany. 

51Gth.  1722,  1st  July — Mr.  Chassin,  of  Illinois,  interesting 
details  on  the  mines;  speaks  of  siver  coins  and  plates  brought  by 
the  Indians  trading  with  Mexico. 

517th.  1723,  21st  Sept.— Mr.  Purry  to  the  Duko  d'Orleans,  pray- 
ing that  he  be  permitted  to  have  his  memoir  on  Louisiana  printed, 
and  offering  to  prove  that  there  is  no  country  in  France  or  Europe 
e(]ual  to  Louisiana,  and  that  none  but  ignorants  and  traitors  can  have 
a  different  opinion. 

518th.  1725 — memorial  of  Hubert  on  Louisiana,  drawn  up  by 
order  of  the  Duke  of  Noailles. 

519tb.  1722,  9th  Dec. — memorial  of  Drouet  de  Valdcterre  on 
Louisiana,  presents  a  complete  organization. 

520th.  1720,  25th  Dec. — interesting  memorial  on  Louisiana,  Ber- 
nard de  la  Ilarpe. 

521st.  1717,  5th  July — propo.sitious  by  the  West  India  Company 
to  the  navy  council,  and  memorial  to  that  effect. 


% 


PORTFOLIO  NO.  IX. 


85 


Three  largo  ant'  well  bound  minute  books,  to  wit :  Vol.  I.,  1712  to 
17*20,  contents : 

1st.  Letters  patent  granted  by  tlie  King  to  ]Mr.  Crozat  for  the  ex- 
clusive commerce  of  Louisiana,  dated  "  Fontainobleau,  14th  S'p- 
tember,  1712."  I'rivileges  of  3Ir.  Crozat,  returned  to  the  King  2l:5d 
August,  1717.  Letters  patent  in  the  form  of  an  edict  creating  the 
"West  India  Company  in  August,  1717  ;  exclusive  privileges  granted 
to  that  company  for  2r)  years,  to  begin  1st  January,  17 lIS,  and  to 
close  in  December,  1742. 

Instructions  by  the  company;  its  administrative  acts;  organization 
prepared  in  Paris  ;  appointments  by  the  King  of  officers  recommended 
by  the  company. 

This  book  of  record  was  kept  by  the  company. 

Vol.  II.  1721  to  1731,  contents: 

1st  September,  1721,  concession  of  lands  to  Mr.  de  Boisbriant. 

KJth  3Iay,  1722,  ordinance  in  behalf  of  the  Capuchins  for  an  estab- 
lishment in  Louisiana. 

IDth  December,  1722,  ordinance  relative  to  the  Capuchins. 

December,  1722,  Mr.  Delachaiso  appointed  by  the  King  with 
extraordinary  powers,  to  investigate  the  whole  of  the  "West  ludii 
Company's  affairs  in  Louisiana. 

January,  1724,  presentation  by  the  King  of  Mr.  Delachaise  to  ful- 
fill the  functions  of  first  counselor  in  the  conseil  supt?rieur  of  Louis- 
iana. 

January  11th,  1724,  letters  patent  giving  admission  to  Mr.  Dela- 
chaise  in  the  conseil  superieur  of  Louisiana. 

February,  1724,  IJrevet  permitting  3Ir.  Delachaiso  to  accept  the 
appointment  of  honorary  counselor  in  the  "  conseil  de  la  llegie  of 
Louisiana." 

.Tuly  5th,  172-5,  Brevet  permitting  the  establishment  of  the  Capu- 
chins in  Louisiana. 

September  13th,  1726,  treaty  with  the  Ursulines. 

September  ISth,  1726,  Brevet  in  favor  of  the  Ursulines.  Decree 
regulating  the  concessions  granted,  and  to  be  hereafter  granted  in 
Louisiana,  &c.  &c. 

Vol.  III.,  contents : 

Edicts;  letters  patent;  declarations;  decrees;  ordinances  and  rules 
concerning  Louisiana. 

From  24th  September,  1712,  to  27th  August,  1746,  edicts,  letters 
patent,  declarations,  ordinances  and  decrees  of  the  council  of  state, 
ordinances  and  rules  of  governors,  and  decrees  and  rules  of  the  '*  eon- 


1  ■ 


5! 


it. 


1    -''■;' 
•  I- 


1 


86 


HISTORICAL  C0LLKCT10N9  OF  LOUISIANA. 


fi']]  snp<''riour"  cnnrerning  Louisiaiifi,  ^'roni  2I)(1  Jainmry,  IT'^l,  on 
whifli  il;iy  (lie  AVcst  Imliii  Company  surronJercJ  ita  govormiiont  to 
the  King,  to  27th  August,  1740. 

DiTlaration  of  tho  King  of  I7tli  July,  1743,  regarding  the  juclg- 
mont.s  to  be  renJoied  in  land  contestations,  and  ou  the  subject  of  land 
concessions  to  be  granted  in  the  colony. 

In  the  "  IJini.loTiir.ui'K  in:  lloi,"  I\iri.<,  No.  n.')0.  "  Kdation  ou 
nnnale  veritalile  de  ce  (jui  s'est  passe  dans  le  Tays  de  la  Louisiano, 
pendant  22  annAs,  par  Perrieaul,"  (from  1700  to  1722,)  small 
fjuarto,  methodically  written  and  divided  into  chapters,  1)74  pages. 

No.  1074.  "Journal  du  voyage  do  la  liouisiane,  fait  par  Ic  Sr. 
Bernard  d(.'  la  Harpe,  ct  des  diVouvertcs  f|u'il  a  faitcs  dans  la  partie 
do  I'ouest  de  cette  colonic,"  (in  the  year  from  1718  to  1722  iuclu- 
givu.)     Large  folio,  100  pages. 

No.  02S,  Sup.  fi.  (same  volume  as  tho  above.)  "Journal  du 
voyage  fait  par  deux  frigates  du  Eoy,  la  Pradine  command(!'e  par  Mr. 
d'lbcrville,  et  le  Marin  par  Mr.  h  Chevalier  de  SurgCres,  (jui  par- 
tirent  de  Urest  le  24  Oct.  1008."     Large  folio,  SO  pages. 

There  are  .-several  other  interesting  letters  and  papers  relating  to 
Louisiana,  in  tlio  same  vol'..me,  and  at  the  same  period ;  also  a  manu- 
script map  of  the  3Iississippi  river,  dated  1700. 

In  this  map  the  lied  river  is  called  Sab/onm'hrr,  the  Arkansas, 
Tunfi,  and  the  ^lissouri,  lihiere  <hs  (hft(/rs.  You  will  also  receive 
by  this  opportunity  copies  of  two  very  interesting  documents. 

1st.  1st  September,  17^)9,  letter  of  (Governor  Aubry  to  his  govern- 
ment, giving  a  full  account  of  the  occurrences  in  New  Orleans  on  the 
arrival  of  Oovernor  OM?eilly,  of  his  participation  in  the  arrest  and 
condemnation  of  ^lessrs.  do  la  Freniero  and  others  ;  of  the  means  used 
to  bring  the  conspirators  together  at  the  government  house,  where  they 
suddcidy  found  themselves  surrounded  by  a  body  of  grenadiers,  at  the 
close  of  a  speech  of  Governor  O'lleilly,  which  is  given  at  full  length 
in  said  letter. 

2d.  Records  of  the  trial  and  condemnation  of  Messrs.  Nicolas 
Lafreni(ire,  Jean  Baptiste  Noyan,  Balthazar  INIazan,  Pierre  Marquis, 
Joseph  A'illere,  Pierre  Carrere,  Pierre  llardi  de  Boisblanc,  Joseph 
Petit,  Jean  Milhet,  Joseph  Milhet,  I'ierre  Poupet,  Julien  Jerome 
Doucet,  Foucault  ct  Bienville,  whereby  it  appears  that  Pierre  Mar- 
quis was  commander-in-chief:  that  his  project  was  to  establish  a  Re- 
public similar  to  that  of  Switzerland,  and  a  bank  under  tho  name 
of  the  "  Mont  de  piete  j"  that  this  bank  was  put  in  operation  under 
the  direction  of  Mr.  Hardy  de  Boisblanc;  that  a  form  of  government 


I'OUTFOLIO  NO.  IX. 


87 


liad  1 


)Con  prep: 


h'cmI;  tliat  provinus 


to  li 


lis    illTCS 


t,  M 


minis  liiu 


1  tl 


irnwn 


it  into  till'  fiiv  ;  tliat  on  tlio  li"tli  Oct.  I7<i!>,  tlir  anusi'd  wen-  found 
guilty  of  liijrli  treason  ;  that  on  tlio  li-ttli  (lovcnior  O'lu-illy  approved 
the  .scutonoo,  condemning,'  Messr-s.  Nicolas  Cliauvin  liafrcnitTc,  .Joan 
IJaptistc  Noyan,  I'icrro  (!arrcre,  I'it'rrc  Marqui.s  and  .loscpli  Milhct, 
to  1)0  hung.  And  (Icclarinjr  infamous  the  memory  of  3!r.  Villon'-, 
(killed  in  prison.)  Also  condomning  3Ir.  .Joseph  I'ctit  to  porpotuul 
iiuprisonnieut  in  one  of  the  strong  castles  of  his  Catholic  .Majesty. 
Messrs.  Balthazar  3Iazan  and  .Julicn  .Joronic  Poucet,  to  Id  yoar.s'  im- 
prisonment; and  Mos.srs.  I'iorro  Hardy  do  JJoi.sblane,  Jean  Milhet  et 
Pierre  I'oupct  to  six  years'  imprisonment;  ordering  all  the  papers, 
document.^,  &c.,  found  in  the  po.s.session  of  the  conspirators  to  be 
burned  upon  the  public  place  by  the  public  executioner,  and  confisca- 
ting the  whole  of  their  property  in  f.vvor  of  the  crown.  That  on  the 
2r)th  Oct.  the  Licentiate  Felix  del  Key  informed  (ioveruor  O'ileilly 
ofEcially  that  the  above  sentence  could  not  be  carried  into  execution 
because  a  hangman  was  not  to  be  found  in  th(;  country.  That  on  the 
same  day  (iovernor  O'ileilly  ordered  the  conspirators  condemned  to 
death  to  be  shot.  That  on  the  t2rith  October,  1TG!»,  at  o  o'clock  P. 
JM.,  I^fessrs.  Nicolas  Chauvin  Lafreniere,  Pierre  IManjuis,  Joseph  IMil- 
het,  .Jean  Baptiste  Noyan,  and  Pierre  Carrere,  with  their  arms  well 
secured  by  ropes,  were  taken  out  of  the  barracks  of  the  Regiment  of 
Lisbon,  where  they  had  been  imprisoned,  and  conducted  under  a  strong 
escort  of  officers  and  grenadiers,  to  the  jilace  designated  for  their  exe- 
cution, where  a  large  number  of  troops  had  been  formed  into  a  square, 
that  their  sentence  was  there  read  to  thein  in  the  French  language, 
immediately  after  which  they  were  shot.  That  on  the  same  day  all 
the  seditious  papers  found  amo',  flie  conspirators  were  burned  on  the 
public  square.  That  on  the  1.  ;;-)wing  day  Messrs.  .Joseph  I'etil, 
Balthazar  Mazan,  Julien  .Jerome  I>oucet,  Pierre  Hardy  do  Bois- 
blanc,  .Jean  IMilhet,  ct  Pierre  Poupet,  wtiro  shipped  to  the  Havana 
to  be  confined  in  the  More  Castle. 


I 


\  i 


I 


\ 


•■fir" 


.         ^ 


•i  ** 


A  TRANSLATION 


OK  AN 


ORIGINAL    L  E  T  T  E  K 


OF 


HERNANDO  DE   SOTO 


ON  TUE 


5  ' 
% 

I 

"4 


CONQUEST  OF  FLOKIDA. 


i 


A  TRANSLATION  OK  AN  OllKilNAL  LKTTKU 


iir 


HERNANDO  DE  SOTO. 


I 


HERNANDO   f)K   SOTO  TO  TIFK   MTNTCTPAL  AUTIIOKl- 
TIIOS  OF  ST.  JA(iO  1)K  CUUA. 

Most  noule  Sms : 

Since  Hi}'  arrival  in  tbi.s  country,  I  have  written  throe  letters  by 
(liffLTCut  uppurtuuilios  to  JLivana,  ami  without  heing  honoreil  with 
a  rei)ly  to  either,  I  embrace  thir*  oceasion  to  address  yuu  another,  be- 
lieving it  will  always  be  agreeable  to  you  to  hear  I'rum  me.  I  sailed 
from  llavanji  with  my  fleet  on  Sunday,  3Iay  18lh,*  altlKjugh  I  had 
written  you  1  would  not  weigh  anchor  before  the  2r)th.  1  set  sail 
sooner  than  I  had  iuieuded,  in  oriler  to  imtlh  by  a  favorable  wind. 
We  had  no  sooner,  however,  ( iili  red  the  Gulf  than  we  were  becalmed, 
which  prevented  Ua  from  reaching  this  coast  before  AVhitsunday  the 
2f)th.  A\'e  missed  our  port  by  live  or  six  leagues  through  the  care- 
lessness of  the  jiilots,  which  obliged  me  to  embaik  on  board  of  one 
of  the  brigautines  to  go  in  search  of  it,  which  detaiudl  me  three  days 
more.  But  another  cause  of  this  delay  was  my  ignorance  of  the 
channel,  which  led  mo  into  a  bay  some  twelve  leagues  or  more  in- 
land, from  which  I  found  it  diflicult  to  extricate  myself.  This  loss  of 
time,  therefore,  obliged  me  to  send  Vasco  I'arcallo  do  Figueroa,  my 
lieutenant-general,  with  the  brigantines  to  take  possession  of  a  village 
at  the  foot  of  the  bay,  and  I  ordered  him  to  laud  all  the  troops  and 
horses  there,  where  I  afterwards  joined  him,  with  some  difficulty,  on 
Trinity  Sunday.     The  Indians  became  frightened,  and  deserted  the 

•  G;(rcilaso  dc  la  Vega,  tbo  Iiica,  says  tho  25th  of  May,  1530. 


92 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


country,  bo  that  in  a  distance  of  thirty  leagues  or  more  we  did  not 
meet  with  a  human  being. 

As  soon  as  I  landed  I  was  informed  that  a  Chri.stian  was  in  the 
power  of  a  cacique  of  the  country.  I  accordingly  dispatched  Baltasar 
de  Gallegos  with  forty  horsemen  and  as  many  foot  boldiers,  to  bring 
him  into  camp.  After  marching  a  day's  journey  he  overtook  the 
Christian  in  company  with  eight  or  ten  Indians,  \  '  were  coming  to 
me.  I  was  much  pleased  with  this  good  fortune,  for  this  man  know  the 
language  of  the  country,  although  he  had  almost  forgotten  his  own. 
His  name  is  Juan  Ortiz,  a  gentleman  of  Seville.  I  afterwards  went 
in  person  to  the  cacique  of  this  province,  and  learned  from  him  that 
his  intentions  were  entirely  pacific.  I  then  dispatched  Baltasar  de 
Gallegos  with  eighty  lancers  and  one  hundred  foot  soldiers,  to  recon- 
noitre the  country.  He  found  it  cultivated  with  fields  of  Indian 
corn,  beans,  pumpkins,  and  other  vegetables,  sufficient  for  the  sup- 
ply of  a  large  army.  Having  arrived  at  a  cacique's  called  Hurri- 
pacuxi,*  who  is  the  chief  of  several  provinces,  I  negotiated  with  him 
a  treaty  of  peace,  which  he  broke  very  soon  after.  I  had  him  imme- 
diately arrested,  with  seventeen  others,  an.  ng  whom  were  several  old 
men,  who  were  influential  with  the  Indiy  s,  and  acquainted  with  the 
interior  of  the  country.  They  told  mo  th  after  three  days'  journey 
I  would  come  to  a  country  well  peopled  an  cultivated,  and  to  a  large 
city  called  Aqiicrra;  and  after  two  more  d  ,'s'  we  should  reach  ano- 
ther city  called  Ocale,  where  it  would  be  p  isant  for  us  to  spend  the 
winter. 

They  related  to  me  so  many  improbable  hings  about  its  magnifi- 
cence, that  I  dare  not  repeat  them  all  to  lU.  They  said  we  should 
find  here  all  kinds  of  poultry,  and  deer  Gim^  lacos  enclosed  in  parks. 
Besides  persons  who  carried  on  a  brisk  trade  with  them  in  gold  and 
pearls,  which  were  found  in  their  province  in  great  quantities.  I 
trust  in  God  it  may  be  so,  for  I  have  threatened  to  punish  them  if 
they  attempt  to  deceive  me.  Tho  Christian  has  so  far  rendered  me 
very  important  services.  Indeed  I  do  not  know  what  would  have 
become  of  us  if  we  had  not  been  so  fortunate  as  to  have  met  with 
him.  I  constantly  return  thanks  to  God  for  his  watchful  care  over 
us.  There  are  still  at  sea  eighty  foot  soldiers  in  the  brigantines. 
My  general  has  taken  forty  horsemen  with  him,  for  the  purpose  of 
assisting  Juan  d'Anasco,  who  has  surprised  a  large  body  of  Indians. 
When  he  returns  I  shall  go  into  winter  quarters  at  Ocale,  where  I 

•  The  Urribacuxi  of  Vega. 


i 


I    1 


TRANSLATION  OF  AN  ORIGINAL  LETTER  OF  HERNANDO  DE  SOTO.    93 


hope  to  find  all  that  my  army  should  stand  in  need  of.  T  hope  that 
Guil  will  pro.-<per  this  expedition  for  his  service,  smd  that  I  may  ever 
be  found  useful  to  my  country.  In  spite  of  the  arduous  duties  I  have 
to  perform,  I  can  never  forget  my  country,  and  the  many  obligationa 
I  am  under  to  my  friends.  I  am  indeed  sorry  it  is  not  in  ray  power 
to  greet  then)  in  person.  I  beg  of  you  to  continue  to  govern  the  coun- 
try well,  for  which  I  shall  never  cease  to  thank  you.  As  it  regards 
the  fort  which  was  commenced  before  my  departure,  I  wish  you  to 
have  it  finished,  as  the  time  may  come  when  it  will  be  useful  for  the 
defence  of  the  city.  I  now  pray  God  to  keep  your  lordships  from  all 
harm,  and  prosper  your  undertakings.  I  subscribe  myself  in  this  city 
and  port  of  Saint  Esprit,  in  the  province  of  Florida,  this  ninth  day  of 
July,  1539, 

Your  lordships'  obedient  servant, 

HERNANDO  DE  SOTO. 


j 


rTmHSv^eu;mi'uutimm<mimmm 


A  TRANSLATION 


OF  A 


KKCENTLY  DISCOVERED  MANUSCRIPT  JOURNAL 


OF  THE 


EXPEDITION  OF  HERNANDO  DE  SOTO 


INTO 


FLORIDA 


BY  LUIS  HERNANDEZ  DE  BIEDMA 


m 


li     'R'S 


A   NARRATIVE   OF   THE   EXPEDITION 


OP 


HERNANDO  DE   SOTO. 

BY 
LUIS  IIEllNANBEZ  DE  BIEDMA, 

[Factenr  ilc  «(t  j\Iaj<:ste.) 
PRESENTED  TO  THE  KING  AND  COUNCIL  OF  THE  INDIES,  ir.41.» 


Hayino  arrived  at  the  Port  of  Baya  Honda,f  we  landed  six  liuu- 
drod  and  twenty  men,  and  two  hundred  and  twenty-three  liorses.  Ai^ 
soon  as  we  had  done  so,  wo  were  informed  by  one  of  the  Indians  we 
had  captured,  that  a  Chriatian^  was  living  a  few  leagues  oft',  who 
Lad  served  in  the  expedition  of  Panifilc  de  Narvacz.  The  eacique 
of  this  province  on  hearing  we  had  landed,  asked  the  Christian  if  he 
wished  to  return  to  us.  He  answered  him  in  the  affirmative,  and  im- 
mediately sent  him,  with  nine  Indians,  to  our  camp,  llis  body  was 
naked,  and  in  his  hand  he  had  a  bow  and  arrows.  As  soon  as  we 
perceived  them  coming  we  took  them  for  spies,  and  marched  out  to 
meet  them,  but  they  fled  in  every  direction.  The  horsemen  dashed 
after  them  and  wounded  one  of  the  Indians,  and  would  have  killed 
the  Christian  if  he  had  not  invoked  '*  the  Virgin  Mary,"  and  made 
signs  that  he  was  a  Christian,  for  he  had  almost  forgotten  to  speak  our 
language.      He  was  immediately  conducted  to   the  governor.      He 

•  This  narrative  was  presented,  says  Munoz,t.o  the  King  aiul  Council  of  the 
Indies  in  1544,  by  Luis  Hernandez  de  BieJuia,  who  accompanied  the  expe- 
dition in  the  capacity  of  ^■Factmr  de  sa  Majcste,''  and  lias  been  but  very  recently 
discovered  in  Spain. 

t  The  Espiritu  Santo  of  Vega,  and  now  called  Tanip-.i  Bay. 

J  Juan  Ortiz,  a  gentleman  of  Seville. 

8 


er 


F 


ii 


m  ? 
\l  1  : 


.M' 


!  mi 


4    '4 


98 


irrsTORICAL  COLLKCTION'S  OF  LOUISIANA. 


sttitod  that  ho  h;i(l  biH-n  twelve  yearn  among  the  Indians,  anil  .spoke 
tiuir  language  inifectly ;  but  that  he  was  unanjuaintcd  with  the 
eouutry,  ami  was  unable  to  tell  us  anything  about  it,  oxfopt  that 
there  wa.s  no  gold  in  it. 

Wo  now  set  out  t'n.ini  the  l*ort  of  Baya  Ilondu,  to  penetrate  the 
inti.'rior  of  the  eoinitry,  with  all  the  troops  excoftt  twenty-six  horse- 
un  n  and  sixty  foot  soldiers,  whieli  we  left  behind  to  defend  the  fort, 
until  they  should  reeeivi;  orders  from  the  governor  to  join  him.  We 
marched  in  a  westerly  direetion,  and  then  north-east.  We  heard  of  a 
caei'jue  who  reeeived  tribute  from  all  the  nations.  His  name  was 
ILiii-qntciui,'^'  and  lived  about  twelve  leagues  from  the  coast.  Wo 
Continued  to  march  across  swamps  and  rivers  for  fifteen  or  twenty 
leagues,  and  reached  a  village  about  which  we  had  been  told  strange 
stories.  Among  others,  they  pretended  that  when  the  inhabitants 
shoutud  aloud,  the  birds  tlying  in  the  air  would  fall  dead  to  the  ground. 
We  arrived  at  a  small  village  called  J'Jlo-calc.f  Hero  we  found 
some  Indian  corn,  beans,  and  little  dogs,  which  was  not  a  meal  for  our 
hungry  army.  ^Ve  remained  here  seven  or  eight  days,  during  which 
time  wo  made  an  attempt  to  entrap  some  Indians,  to  serve  us  as  guides 
to  the  province  of  Apalache.  AVe  then  set  out  in  the  direction  of 
iSow  Spain,  marching  ten  or  twelve  leagues  from  the  coast.  After 
live  or  six  days'  journey,  we  passed  some  hamlets,  and  arrived  at  a 
village  called  Aquacalccuen,  when  wc  found  the  Indians  had  fled  to  the 
woods. 

We  remained  here  five  or  six  days  to  procure  guides,  and  took  with 
u-  ten  or  twelve  women,  one  of  whom  informed  us  that  she  was  the 
daughter  of  a  cacique,  who  afterwards  joined  us.  After  six  or  seven 
days'  journey,  we  met  a  hundred  and  fifty  Indians  armed  with  bows  and 
arrows,  wdio  were  Avatching  an  opportunity  to  rescue  the  cacique  wc 
had  brought  with  us.  We  killed  a  few  and  captured  others ;  among 
i\w  latter  were  some  who  were  acquainted  with  the  interior  of  the  coun- 
try. We  then  passed  a  river,  and  crossed  a  country  called  Veachik; 
will  re  we  found  a  great  many  deserted  villages.  Wc  came  to  a  vil- 
lage called  Aqui'ky'l  on  the  frontier  of  the  province  of  Apalache,  and 
separated  from  V^eachile  by  a  river, §  over  which  wc  threw  a  bridge  of 
rafts  tied  together.  We  crossed  it  with  difiiculty,  for  the  Indians 
had  posted  themselves  on  the  opposite  bank,  and  fought  with  great 

•  Tlie  Urrilni  cuxi  of  Vega. 

t  Xeiir  tlio  hfuwaiK'e. 

X  Sni)]io:.L'J  to  be  a  villagn  of  that  iinnu'  iiuw  south  of  the  .\Iluc'hua  prairie. 

}  Siiiiposcd  to  l)L'  the  Suwiiuoe  River. 


KXI'KDITION  OF  IIKIIXANKO  DK  SOTO. 


09 


1  the 

thiit 

to  the 
horso- 
c  furt, 

(1  of  ti 
no  was 
.     AVo 
twenty 
strange 
ibitiints 
ifi-dund. 
)  found 
for  our 
<T  wliicli 
,s  guides 
ction  of 
After 
ved  at  a 
;d  to  tlic 

ook  with 
was  the 
or  seven 
bows  and 
,cique  we 
,  among 
the  coun- 
Veachife, 
to  a  vil- 
ache,  and 
bridge  of 
e  In'lians 
vith  great 


litia  prairie. 


I 


bravery.  We  iinrchoil  to  the  village  of  Iri'-tn-clniro*  but  as  soon  as 
the  luilians  saw  us,  they  svt  fire  to  tlioir  village;  and  fled.  The  \>vn- 
vinee  of  Apufdihr  contains  many  villages,  Imt  we  fniind  jjrovisions 
very  scarce   there.     From  Aiialaelie  wo   marched   to  tiie  province  of 


Th 


from   til 


h 


ustaira.  ino  jrovernor  now  thouL'lit  it  tune  to  licar  irom  iiKi.-e  ne 
had  left  behind  at  IJava  llenda,  as  it  was  n(jt  his  intention  to  ailvance 
so  far  into  the  country  as  to  render  it  impossible  to  have  any  ommu- 
nieation  with  them. 

^Ve  had  iinw  traveled  one  hundred  ami  ten  kagues.  The  governur 
wt'Ut  in  si'arch  of  the  sea,  whleli  was  w'nw  leagues  distant.  We  had 
now  come  to  that  part  of  tlu;  coast  where  I'amfile  de  Xarvai'Z  ha<l 
built  his  ves.sels.  Wc  recognized  the  spot  on  which  he  had  built  his 
smithy,  and  saw  a  great  quantity  of  horses'  bones  scattered  about. "j" 
The  Indians  told  us  the  Christians  liad  built  their  ves.sels  here.  As 
soon  us  .luan  d'Anasco  had  marked  the  trees  on  the  shore,  the  go- 
vernor ordereil  him  to  go  to  liaya  Honda,  and  .send  forward  the  troops 
he  liad  left  there,  and  to  return  himself  by  S(?a  with  the  brigantiues 
to  Apalaehe.  As  soon  as  the  brigautincs  had  arrived,  the  governor 
sent  them  again  to  sea,  under  the  command  of  the  Chevalier  Fran- 
cisco ]Maldonado  de  Salamanca,  to  find  a  port  to  the  East.  lie 
coasted  along  shore  until  he  reached  a  bay;};  which  h;id  a  good  harbor. 
On  the  bank  of  a  river  was  an  Indian  village,  some  of  whom  came  to 
trade  with  him.  lie  spent  two  months  in  making  this  exploration. 
As  soon  as  he  returned,  the  governor  ordered  him  to  take  the  brigan- 
tines,  on  board  of  which  was  Donna  Isabella  de  Bobadilla,  to  Havana, 
and  on  his  arrival  there,  to  set  sail  again  with  them  to  tlie  river 
Sa'nit  K:<pr!t,  where  he  agreed  to  meet  him  in  six  months,  if  he  should 
not  hear  from  him  sooner.§ 

As  soon  as  the  brigantincs  had  sot  sail  for  Cuba,  we  began  our 
march  to  the  north,  and  journeyed  live  days  through  a  desert  until 
we  came  t(5  a  large  ami  rapid  river,  which  wc  crossed  over  in  boats. 

This   province   is   called  Acapachuj^tiiW      We  observed  some  vil- 

*  The  Vilachuco  of  Vega. 

■f"  Suiiposod  to  be  lliu  site  of  the  present  town  of  1st.  Mark-s,  where  Pamlilc 
de  Narvaoz  embarked  the  miserable  remnant  of  his  troops,  on  the  2".id  Septem- 
ber, iCi'-'S,  to  return  to  Sjiain. 

f  Supj)ose(l  to  1)0  Pensacola  Bay.  the  A<-'liiisi  of  Vega. 

§  bi  the  following  year  (151'.')  Malilonado  returned  to  the  Port  of  Aibusi 
(Pensacola),  toconmumicate  with  De  Soto, but  nottinding  him  there  he  returned 
to  Havana. 

I|  The  Copufldijui  of  Vega. 


:i 


If  /'.r^ 


100 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


ii! 


liigcs,  but  as  the  country  was  covered  with  very  cxtc^nsivo  Hwainps, 
wo  could  not  explore  them.  The  Iiuliiiii  huts  iu  this  province  were 
differently  constructed  from  those  we  luid  previously  seen.  They  were 
dug  in  the  ground,  iiud  reseuddcd  caverns,  while  those  we  hud  passed 
were  iihove  ground,  and  covered  with  In'anches  of  palm  trcea  and 
straw.  We  continued  our  inarch  until  wo  came  to  two  rivers,  which 
wc  crossed  by  making  rafts  of  pino  trees,  and  t'Utercd  a  province  called 
Ofod*,  where  we  found  a  much  larger  village  than  we  had  yet  seen. 
We  captured  some  Indians,  to  serve  us  as  guides  aud  interpreters. 
Wo  took  five  or  six  days  to  cross  this  country  to  a  province  called 
Ohisi.f  From  Chisi  wo  went  to  a  province  called  AftajKiha.  Here 
■we  found  a  river  which  flowed  towards  the  south,  like  those  wc  liad 
already  passed,  aud  emi)tied  into  the  sea  where  Vasijuez  do  Ayllon 
iiad  landed.  This  province  is  well  peopled.  The  governor  questioned 
the  Indians  about  the  province  of  CajUarhitiui.'l  They  told  him  it 
was  impossible  to  get  there,  as  there  were  no  roads,  nor  provisions 
of  any  kind  which  ho  could  obtain,  and  that  he  must  die  of  hunger  if 
he  attempted  it. 

Nevertheless,  we  continued  our  march  until  we  came  to  sonic  caciques 
{Ocutc  and  Ca/iKjuc),  who  gave  us  some  provisions,  and  told  us  that  if 
we  would  declare  war  against  the  Queeu  of  Cojituchlqui,^  they  would 
furnish  us  with  all  that  we  needed  on  tho  road,  and  warned  us  that 
they  had  no  communication  with  her,  as  they  were  at  war  with  her. 
Seeing  that  wc  were  resolved  on  going  there,  they  furnished  us  with 
eight  hundred  Indians  to  carry  our  provisions  and  baggage,  aud  guides 
who  took  us  in  an  easterly  direction,  but  after  three  days  we  found 
them  deceiving  us,  nor  did  we  know  which  road  to  take  to  this  pro- 
vince. The  governor  sent  men  in  different  directions  to  find  a  road, 
and  gave  them  each  ten  days  to  go  and  come,  with  orders  to  report 
any  villages  which  they  might  see.  Those  who  went  in  the  direction 
of  south,  and  south-east,  returned  four  days  after,  and  reported  they 
had  found  a  little  hamlet,  aud  some  provisions.  They  brought  with 
them  some  Indians,  who  understood  our  guides,  which  was  very  fortu- 
nate for  us,  as  we  had  but  few  interpreters.  We  immediately  marched 
for  this  hamlet,  to  wait  there  until  the  messengers  who  had  gone  in 
the  other  direction  could  join  us.     Here  we  found  fifty  fanegas  of  In- 

•  Tlie  JhU  of  Vegti. 

t  The  Chisca  of  Vega. 

X  Supposed  to  be  about  the  head  waters  of  tho  Stxvnnnali  River. 

§  The  Copadiiqui  of  Vega, 


KXrF:i)lTION  OF  IIKRXANDO  DK  SOTO. 


101 


•liiin  cnrn,  somo  wlie.-it,  and  .1  grent  many  iniillpcrry  trees,  ami  ntlicr 


wiM  fruit. 


LS  SUDII 


as  till!  other  niesseni'er.s  eanie  we  .M't  (Hit  fur  the 


villa;fo  of  (^of!f,tr/ii</iti,  which  was  twelve  flays'  juiirney  fn ini  this 
hamlet,  situated  on  the  bauLs  of  a  river,  which  we  tuuk  fur  the  Saint 
Heleiie.* 

AVheu  we  arrived,  th(>  qneon  sent  us  one  of  her  nieces,  in  a  litter 
carried  hy  Indians  She  sent  the  ;^overnor  a  present  of  a  necklace  of 
heads,  canoes  to  cross  the  river  with,  and  gave  ns  half  the  village  to 
lodge  in.  The  guveriiur  o[iened  a  large  tenijtle  built  in  the  wuuds,  iu 
which  was  buried  the  chiefs  uf  the  country,  and  tuuk  fruni  it  a  quantity 
of  pearls,  amounting  to  .six  or  seven  arruhix,  wdiich  were  sjMiiled  by 
being  buried  in  the  ground.  We  dug  up  two  Spanish  axis,  a  chaiilet 
of  wild  (.>liv(!  seed,  and  .sunie  small  beads,  resendiling  those  we  had 
brought  from  Spain  for  the  purpo,-<e  of  trading  with  the  Indians.  "\Vo 
conjecture  1  they  hail  obtained  these  things  by  trailing  with  the  com- 
panions of  Vasipiez,  de  Aylloii.  The  Indians  told  us  the  sea  was  only 
ab(»ut  thirty  leagues  distant.  They  also  informed  us  that  A'a.S(piez  dc 
Ayllon  had  not  i)enetrated  far  into  the  country,  1)ut  had  mo.>stly  ful- 
lowed  the  sea  shore,  until  his  death.  That  a  large  nund)er  of  his 
soldier.s  died  of  hunger,  and  out  of  si.K  hundred  who  had  landed  iu 
this  country  with  him,  oidy  lifty-seven  had  escaped. 

We  remained  ten  or  twelve  days  iu  the  (jueeu's  village,  and  then  set 
out  to  explore  the  country.  AVe  jnarched  in  a  northerly  direjtion 
eight  or  ten  days,  through  a  mountainous  country,  where  there  was 
but  little  fuod,  until  we  reached  a  province  called  Xuahi;]'  which  was 
thinly  inhabited.'};  We  then  aseemleil  to  the  source  of  the  great  river, 
which  we  .suppo.sed  was  the  Saint  E.<prlt.  At  the  village  of  Guasnll, 
they  gave  us  a  great  many  dugs,  and  sume  eoru  to  eat,  which  served 
us  until  we  reached  a  village  called  Chiscn,^  where  we  found  an 
abundance  of  provisions.  It  is  built  on  an  i-sland  in  the  Saint 
Esjjrit  river,  and  near  its  .source. jj  The  Indians  live  here  in  walled 
villages,  and  make  a  great  deal  of  oil  from  nuts.  Wc  remaiued  here 
twenty-six  or  seven  days,  to  rest  our  horses,  which  had  become  very 

•  Siif)i>o?Pil  10  be  ill  ihe  Cherokee  country,  and  probably  the  IIi\va<.~ee  or  Ten- 
nessee Hiver. 

t  The  most  northern  [loint  of  Do  Soto's  travels,  anti  probably  in  the  latitude 
of  :io°  i\. 

X  Supposed  to  be  the  mountainous  country  of  the  Cherokee?. 

§  Supposi'd  to  be  in  the  ('oiaitry  oi'  the  Clii^'achas. 

II  Supposed  to  be  the  Flint  or  Apalacliicola  River. 


iK 


\r 


102 


TIISTOmCAI,  <'(»I,r-KCTI()NS  OF  r/tUISIANA. 


:1! 


\\    '¥ 


thin.  AVi'  contiuiicil  niir  ihmicIi  .ilniig  this  river,''  until  wo  iirrivod 
in  tlif  provinct!  df  (n><t'/i<,  wlicro  tlic  villa^^'cs  wero  liki-wise  Imilt  on 
tlic  i^lainl.H  (if  (hi'  riviT.  'I'lu'  pmviiKM!  of  Cnai  is  onu  of  tlie  host 
eniiiilrii'S  wo  havo  si en  in  ['"inriila.  Tlic  ('aci<|iit'  canK'  to  UH'i-t  us, 
horni>  ill  a  litter,  aixl  aet'ouipanieil  ]\y  a  mnnerous  train.  ISiit  thu 
next  morning  his  followers  dc^crtotl  him.  Wo  Iceiit  the  eaciijuc  u 
prisoner  until  ho  agreed  to  furni.'ih  us  with  Indians  to  earry  our  hag- 
gage.  Tn  this  country  wo  fonml  pruius  rosouibling  tho.io  of  Sjmin, 
and  vines  whicli  prodncod  oxoelU'Ut  grapes. 

Leaving  this  province  we  marched  west  and  south-west,  for  five  or 
six  days.  W\^  passed  a  groat  nundnr  of  villages,  and  at.  the  end  of 
that  timo  wo  entered  thu  province  called  Jt<i/i.si.  The  inhabitants  fled 
in  every  direction  ;  l>ut  the  eaci(pie  came  soon  after,  and  presented  us 
with  twcnty-si.\  or  .seven  Avomen,  and  .sonio  deer  skins.  W'v  then  pro- 
oeoded  south,  and  jiassing  througii  some  villages,  wo  arrived  in  the 
province!  of  'J\iKr(ilH!<a,'\'  whoso  caci(pio  was  of  such  a  height  that  we 
took  him  for  a  giant.  On  arriving  at  his  village  we  gave  him  a  tour- 
nament, and  oflered  him  other  amu.sements,  of  which  he  took  no  notice. 
AVe  re(iue.>^ted  him  to  give  us  some  Indians  to  carry  our  haggngo, 
wl'ich  ho  refused  with  a  sneer.  The  g(tvernor  then  took  him  a  pri- 
.soner,  which  greatly  enraged  him,  and  wa.s  the  cause  of  his  treachery 
to  us  afterwards,  lie  told  us  that  he  could  not  give  us  anything  here, 
but  we  nmst  go  to  his  village,  calleil  Mmila,  whore  ho  would  furnish 
him  with  all  the  provisions  we  stood  in  need  of.  AVe  came  to  a  large 
river  which  empties  into  the  bay  called  Vhiixr^^  The  Indians  in- 
formed us  that  XarfitrrSs  vessels  had  touchcil  here  for  water,  and  left 
a  Christian  called  Tcudum,  who  was  still  among  the  Indians.  They 
showed  us  a  poignard  which  had  belonged  to  him.  AVo  took  tM'o  days 
to  construct  a  raft  to  cro.ss  the  riv(!r.  In  the  meantime  the  Indians 
killed  one  of  the  governor's  guard.  The  governor  jiunishod  the  caciciuo 
for  it,  and  threatened  to  burn  him  alive  if  he  did  not  deliver  up  the 
murderers,  lie  then  promised  to  deliver  them  up  at  Mdcila.  This 
cacique  had  a  number  of  servants  with  him.  lie  had  one  to  brush  off 
the  flics,  and  an(jthor  to  carry  a  sunshade. 

We  arrived  at  Jfniila^  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning.     It  was  a 


•   Probably  the  Coosa  River. 

t  TliiH  provinct'  [)rol)ribly  i;;xvo  name  to  the  River  Tii^i'iiluo.-a  in  Alubania. 
J  I'eii.-at'oki  Bny,  tlio  A('liii>i  of  Vi'ga. 

§  This  linvn,  the  .Miuivilii  of  Vega,  is  suppnsod   to  have   stood   on  tlie   imrtli 
side  of  the  Alabauia,  about  the  junction  of  that  river  with  tlie  'I'oiubeebe,  about 


^. 


i 


KXTKItlTKiN  ol"  IIEIlNANttO  I»E  SOTO. 


108 


*]1UI11, 


I 


villiiLM  linilt   nil  a    pluiii,  aiiil   siim'iiiulitl    I'V  stniiig  wnlls.     On  the 
out.siilf  til.'  Indians  lia<l  |)mII(i1  ilnwii  tlicir  lints,  so  us  imt  tn  » iiilmrrass 


tl 


uni. 


■><»iii 


(•  of  till'  cliii'ls  met   US  aiiil   tiiM   us  wc  cnuM  cniaiiii 


•  nii 


tlu'  jilaiii,  liiit  tlif  giivtrnnr  in'ifrrn  '1  U'ling  with  tlicui  into  the  tn\Yn. 
\\\'  saw  itnly  three  or  fniir  huiiilreil  Indians,  who  entertained  us  with 
d.'nieing  and  feastin^r,  hut  there  was  hid  in  the'  tuwii  live  or  six  thnu- 
sand  men,  tn  surpriso  us.  After  tlie  daiiiini^  was  over  the  eaeii|iie 
retired  into  uue  <«1'  his  hiit-i.  Tlie  guvoriinr  re(|iiest(d  liini  In  (Mint' 
nut,  whieh  ho  refused  to  do.  The  ea|ifain  of  the  governor's  guard 
wiut  in  after  him,  and  found  it  filled  with  warriors,  armed  with  hows 
iind  arrows,  lie  rejiorti'd  to  the  governor  what  lie  hail  se'ii,  and 
told  Lim  that  he  susjieeted  they  were  gf'iiig  (•>  oomniit  .<ouio  treason. 
Tlio  governor  then  sent  for  another  eaeii|ue,  who  also  refused  to  eonic. 
The  Indians  now  hegaii  to  shoot  their  arrows  from  the  loojiholes  in 
their  hou.-ies,  while  others  diseharu'ed  :hem  from  the  outside.  We 
were  not  upon  our  guard,  a.s  we  lia<l  sii]i|iosed  them  friends,  and  eon- 
secjuontly  we  sullered  severely.  "We  retreated  to  the  outside  of  the 
village.  Our  haggage  remained  where  it  had  heen  thrown  down,  and 
as  .'ioon  us  the  Indians!  diseovered  wo  had  fled,  they  shut  the  gates  of 
tlu'  village,  and  eoiniiK.'neod  to  jpillage  our  hagL'age. 

The  !j;(Jvernor  ordered  sixtv  or  eiL'htv  horsemen  to  arranire  tlieiu- 
.selves  into  four  platoons,  and  attaek  the  village  m  four  (liferent  ))laee.s. 
lie  direeted  the  lirst  who  should  enter  the  village  to  set  fire  to  the 
houses,  while  the  rest  <if  the  soldiers  were  ordered  not  to  let  any 
escape.  We  fought  from  morning  till  night,  without  a  single  Indian 
asking  for  (juarti'rs.  When  night  i  ame,  only  three  Indians  were  found 
left  guarding  the  twenty  women  who  had  danced  liefore  us.  Two  of 
these  were  killed,  and  the  other,  ascending  a  tree,  took  the  string  from 
his  how  Jiud  hung  himself  from  one  of  the  limlis.  We  lost  twenty 
men  killed,  and  hud  two  hundred  and  fifty  wounded.*  During  the 
night  we  dre.-.sed  the  wounded  with  tin;  fat  of  tin;  slain  Indians,  he- 
cau.se  our  niedieine  was  hurnt  with  the  haggage.  We  remained  here 
twenty-seven  or  eight  days,  until  tlu'  wounded  could  recover.  We 
then  departed,  taking  with  us  the  women,  whom  we  distrihuted  among 
the  wounded  to  nurse  them. 

The  Indians  had  told  us  we  were  more  than  forty  leagues  from  the 


i 


linrtli 
about 


one  luiiidreil  iiiili';  fiom  Peiisaenla.    Tlion;  is  liule  detilj;  itiat  it  gave  tli'j  name 
to  tlie  presi'iit  liver  ami  lj;iy  of  Mubilc. 

•   Uarcila.>u  de  la  \  cga  slates  the  Ioj.s  of  tlie  S;iaiiiards  tn  be  ciyhty-lwo.  i'ihI 
the  liuljjus  above  eleven  tliousaiid. 


I 


V 


101 


insTOniCAT,  rOLI.KCTlONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


»-oa.  We  desired  tlio  j^ovcniur  to  ujiiiroach  it,  .-o  tiiat  we  lui^iit  [tct 
Moino  iiewH  IVdiii  the  Itri^raiitiiuH,  Ijiil  he  tiarcd  not  dn  it,  as  it  was  now 
alnady  in  tin-  middhi  of  Novt'iiilicr,  and  h(!  \vi>hcd  to  Ihid  a  country 
where  tliere  were  iirovisioiis,  and  eould  ;.'o  into  winter  ((iiarters.  We 
niarehed  north  li'n  or  twelve  days,  snll'iriuji;  intensely  from  the  cold, 
until  at  length  we  reached  a  fertile  ]»rovinee,  where  we  went  into  win- 
ti.T  ((uarters.  The  told  here  is  greater  than  in  S|)ain.  This  province 
i><  ealled  C/iintra.'^'  The  Indians  dtrfiinded  tiie  rivers  we  had  to  cro^s, 
Imt  at'ierwards  they  fled  to  the  woods.      In  seven  or  eiirht  days  after, 


tl 


le  caeiiiue  sent  envoys  to  the  governor 


Tl 


ley  Wire  well  reeeivid  hy 


him,  and  ho  sent  word  to  the  eaei(|ue  to  jjresent  himself.  The  eaei<iuo 
eanii'  in  a  litter,  and  hmught  with  him  raliliits,  and  whatever  he  could 
proeure  in  the  country,  to  give  us  to  eat.  At  night  we  surjirised  some 
IndiauH  wdio  pretended  they  had  come  into  oiu-  camp  to  see  how  wo 
slept.  Susjieeting  their  motives  we  increased  our  guards.  As  these 
ludian.s  knew  how  wo  hatl  placed  our  guards,  three  hundred  entired 
the  village  and  set  fire  to  it.  They  killed  lifty-seveii  horses,  three 
hundred  hogs,  and  thirteen  or  fourteen  of  our  men,  iind  afterwards  (led. 
\Vf  reniaineil  here  the  ne\t  day,  in  a  very  had  conilition.  We  had 
a  few  horses  left,  but  we  had  no  .saddles,  lances,  or  shields,  for  all  had 
been  burnt.  In  five  days  after,  the  Indians  renewed  the  attack.  They 
marched  to  battle  in  great  order,  and  attacked  us  on  throe  sides. 
We  wi'Ut  out  to  meet  them,  and  put  them  to  lliglit.  Wo  sojourned 
here  two  months,  during  which  time  we  made  saddles,  lances,  and 
sliields,  after  which  we  inarched  to  the  north-west,  until  we  reached 
the  ]>rovince  of  AlilHimo.lf  llvrc  the  Indians  had  built  a  strong  pali- 
sade, and  had  three  hundred  men  to  defend  it,  with  orders  to  die 
rather  than  to  let  us  pass  through.  As  soon  as  we  perceived  the 
warriors  behind  the  palisade,  we  tlionglit.  they  had  provisions,  or  some- 
tliing  valuable  behind  it.  ^\'e  were  in  great  want  of  jirovisicju.s,  and 
knew  that  we  had  to  cross  a  great  desert  before  we  could  Iind  any. 
We,  therefore,  arranged  ourselves  into  two  divisions,  and  attacked  the 
enemy.  We  carried  the  palisade,  but  we  lost  seven  or  eight  men,  and 
had  twentj'-fivo  wounded.  We  found  enough  provisions  behind  the 
palisade  to  last  us  oiu'  journey  of  ten  or  twelve  days  through  the 
desert.  The  wounded  and  sick  gave  us  a  great  deal  of  trouble,  and  on 
the  last  day  wo  very  unexpectedly  entered  a  village  called  Quir.  Quis.X 

•  Snppnped  to  he  tlio  country  of  the  Chieasaws. 

■f  Tliis  province  gave  its  name  to  the  Alabama  River. 

if  The  Chisca  of  Garcilaso  de  la  Vega. 


*     / 


n 


KXl'KWmON  <»F  llEllNAMui  DE  SOTO. 


105 


n 


Tlif  laoj/I '  liore  wt'iv  i)Oi>r  aiul  iiiiscraLlc,  anil  wcvo.  \\>trV\\]>^  tlioir  cdm 
licMs  whi.-ii  M  titiToil  it.  'J'lif  \illa^t'  was  liuilt  «iu  tlio  I'aiik.s  uf  ihi' 
Saint  /■Jn/ti/J-     It  W.J    tril»ut;iry,  liko  uiaiiy  others,  to  the  hcncrfigu  of 

A\     'ft  tlie  villag''  to  encamp  on  tho  Imuks  of  the  river.     Horo  wo 
found  the  fuliani*  had  guiln  itd   to  dLnpute  our  {passage.     Tiicy  had 


Vil 


th  t 


icni  a  ''Kj.t  niiudjii"  of  canot-i.     Wo  n 


vmained  liciv  twrnty- 
cight  or  nini'  days,  and  Imilt  four  hirgo  iiiroguis,  rapahlo  of  eontuinin;; 
.suventy  or  fi<.di(y  men  each,  anil  five  or  nix  horses.  In  the  ineuntiuie, 
every  day  at  three  oVloek  in  the  afternoon,  the  Indians  got  into  two 
hundred  and  fifty  oainn'S,  drcssi'd  with  flags,  and  a|iiiroa('hi(l  our  sidi 
of  the  river  to  Nhoot  their  arrows  at  us,  but  a.s  soon  us  we  had  tini.-hul 
our  pirogues  they  made  a  jireeipitute  retreat.  The  river*  here  was 
about  ii  league  wide,  and  from  nineteen  to  twenty  fathoms  deep.  Wi 
ascended  this  river  to  tlie  province  of  l\tnihii,  but  before  \sv  arriviid 
ere  we  came  to  another  province,  whose  soverei;_'n  was  nanu'd   )V.^^•. 


th 


ina. 


7 


lie  came  to  us  and  professed  a  great  deal  of  friend.-hip,  but  lie 
was  at  war  with  the  nation  we  had  just  left.  Jle  was  well  receivi'd  by 
the 


gov 


ernor,  and  that  niirht  wo  encamped  on  a  plain  in  si^ht  of  hi 


village,  where  we  remained  two  day.s.  Tho  eaci(jues  of  this  country 
make  a  custom  of  raising,  near  their  dwellings,  very  high  hills,  on 
which  they  somi'timcs  build  their  huts.  On  one  of  these  we  planted 
the  cross,  and  went  with  much  devotion  on  our  knees  to  kiss  the  foot 
of  it.  On  tho  same  evening  we  returned  to  our  camp,  and  on  the 
following  morning  we  set  out  for  J'aai/id.  "We  journeyed  two  days- 
and  reached  a  village  in  the  midst  of  a  plain  surrounded  by  walls 


'J 


and  a  ditch  filled  with  water,  which  had  been  made  by  the  Indians. 
We  approached  it  cautiously,  and  when  wi'  got  near  it,  we  saw  tho 
inhabitants  going  ofl'.  AVe  entered  it  without  any  trouble,  and  took 
a  few  Indians.  While  we  remained  here  tho  caciipic  whom  we.  had 
left  behind  us  joined  us,  with  a  numerous  troop  of  Indians,  and  ofl'ered 
to  assist  us.  The  governor  received  him  graciously,  and  presented 
him  with  all  the  treasures  wc  had  found  in  the  village,  after  which  he 
went  away  (juietly. 

We  remained  at  this  village  twenty-six  or  seven  days,  anxious  to 
learn  if  wc  could  take  the  northern  route,  and  cross  to  the  »South  Sea. 
We  tiien  marched  north-cast,  where  we  were  told  wo  wfinld  fiml  largo 
towns.  AVe  traveled  eight  days  through  swamps,  after  \\hicli  we  met 
a  troop  of  Indians,  who  lived  under  movable  tents.     They  informed 


) 


I 


•  The  Mississippi  River 


r     t 

I 


106 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  Or  LOUISIANA. 


lis  that  tlicvo  were  other  tribes  like  themselves,  who  pitcher]  their  tent? 
wherever  they  found  deer,  and  carried  their  tents  and  provisions  with 
them  on  their  Lucks  from  place  to  place.  AVe  next  c;imc  to  the  pro- 
vince of  Calitsi.  The  natives  attend  but  little  to  the  cultivation  of 
land,  and  live  principally  on  fish  and  game.  Seeing  there  was  no  way 
of  reaching  the  South  Sea,  we  returned  towards  the  north,  and  after- 
wards in  a  south-west  direction,  to  a  province  called  Qiti'[J<'f"/''  where 
we  found  the  largest  village  wo  had  yet  scon  in  all  our  travels.  It 
was  situated  on  one  of  the  branches  of  a  great  river.  We  remained 
here  six  or  eight  days  to  procure  guides  and  interpreters,  with  the 
intention  of  finding  the  sea.  The  Indians  informed  us  there  was  a 
province  eleven  days  off,  where  they  killed  buffaloes,  and  where  we 
could  find  guides  to  conduct  us  to  the  sea. 

We  set  out  for  this  province,  which  they  called  Coh';/ua.-f  There 
was  no  road  leading  to  it,  and  every  day  brought  us  to  a  swamp,  where 
we  feasted  on  fish.  We  then  crossed  vast  plains  and  high  mountains, 
T\hen  suddenly  we  came  to  the  town  of  CvJiijua,  where  we  found  an 
abundance  of  provisions,  and  a  q-iantity  of  dry  hides.  We  inquired 
here  for  other  villages,  and  they  directed  us  to  go  west  and  south- 
west, and  we  should  find  them.  We  according!}^  followed  their  direc- 
tion, and  came  to  some  scattered  villages  bearing  the  name  of  Tatcl 
Caija.  Here  wo  found  a  large  river,;};  emptying  into  the  KIo  Grande. 
We  were  told  that  if  we  were  to  ascend  this  river  we  should  find  a 
large  province  called  Catjas.^  We  repaired  thither,  ,iud  found  it 
a  mountainous  country,  and  composed  of  populous  villages.  We  then 
set  out  for  the  province  of  ?'h/((]|  to  go  into  winter  quarters.  But 
])efore  reaching  it,  we  had  to  cross  very  high  mountains.  We  came 
to  an  Indian  village,  where  they  defended  themselves  so  bravely  that 
we  lost  seven  or  eight  men,  and  as  many  horses.  The  following  morn- 
ing the  governor  took  guides,  and  ordered  the  troops  to  be  in  readi- 
ness to  march  to  the  next  province,  which  the  Indians  called  Qiiipana, 
situated  at  the  foot  of  very  higli  mountains.  From  thence  we  turned 
towards  the  east,  and  crossing  these  mountains  we  descended  into  an 
inhabited  plain,  favorable  to  our  designs,  and  where  there  M'as  a  large 

*   Suppo-^ed  to  be  near  Little  Rock,  Arkansas. 

f  The  Coligoa  of  Voga,  supposed  to  liave  been  situated  towards  the  source? 
of  tlie  St.  Francis,  or  the  hills  of  the  White  River. 

X  Pvobal)ly  the  St.  Francis. 

§  .Snin'osed  to  have  been  the  country  of  the  Quapaws. 

I|  Supposed  to  have  been  the  country  between  tin;  Wasliita  and  the  Little 
Missouri. 


■i 


EXPEDITION  OF  HERNANDO  DE  SOTO. 


107 


village  built  on  tlio  banks  of  a  river,*  wliieli  emptied  into  the  great 
river  we  hud  passed.  This  province  was  called  Viaiixjnc.  Here  wt- 
went  into  winter  cpuirters,  and  snffercd  >!:o  nuuli  from  the  cold  and 
juow  that  wc  thought,  we  should  all  have  pori^dled. 

The  Christian"!"  whom  we  took,  and  who  had  served  us  ;is  an  inter- 
preter, died  in  this  place.  In  the  beginning  of  3Iareh  we  descended 
this  river,  passing  through  populous  pruviuccs,  until  we  came  at  last 
to  a  ci-..:".try  the  Indians  culled  Aiiicn^a,:iju<:.  A  caci(|iie  called  d'nn- 
'■ho^aiK^iic  came  to  see  us.  He  lived  on  the  banks  of  the  Great  Fuver. 
The  governor  set  out  iinniediately  with  the  cacique  for  the  village  df 
(juachoyau(jue..'};  His  village  was  fortiOed  and  well  surrounded  by 
walls.  At  this  jjlaco  the  governor  had  d'  t  rmined  to  Imild  s(ime 
brigantines  to  send  to  Cuba,  to  let  them  know  that  he  was  still  alive. 
He  sent  his  captain  to  find  out  the  direction  of  the  sea.  He  returned 
back  in  a  few  days,  saying  that  the  vast  .■■v.aiup'^  which  the  (Ireat  liivcr 
hail  formed,  prevented  him  from  doing  so.  At  length  the  governor, 
tinding  his  situatinu  becoming  every  day  more  embarrassing,  and  his 
affiiirs  going  wning,  f^'U  sick  and  died.^  He  appointed  Luis  de 
3I0SCOSO  his  successor.  Not  iiuding  any  way  of  reaching  the  sea  by 
the  Great  River,  Luis  de  ^loscoso  determined  on  going  by  land  to 
^Fexieo.  "When  we  set  out,  we  traveled  twenty-seven  days  in  a 
westerly  direction  to  the  province  of  Chaviti,  where  the  Indians  made 
salt. II  From  thence  wo  went  in  three  diiys  to  the  province  of 
A(juaca^. 

The  Indians  told  us  here  that  the  country  licyond  was  a  wilderness 
and  uninhabited.  That  to  find  villages  we  must  go  towards  the  south- 
east,    "Wo  then  came   to  a  province  called  A7.s.s("c»yic,*[  then  to  Nau- 


hi 


-Sf 


*   Siii)iiosc(l  to  be  the  Arliunsas. 

t  Juan  Ortiz. 

J  Siijipo-ri'tl  to  tie  sitnaled  a  ^hoit  ilistuiioo  fioiii  the  Mississippi,  the  Giiticlioya 
of  Vc'^a. 

§  Thus  (liod  at  the  i\'j.i^  of  rcirty-two,  Iloniiiii'lo  ile  Soto,  0110  ol'  the  hnivi'st  o! 
llio  luany  leaih'rs  who  li;;nr(>cl  in  tlie  lir.-t  (liscoverics  ol'  the  Westeni  world. 
No  one  was  better  (inalilied  to  ride  the  hardy  spirits  luider  hiin.  He  was  stern 
in  coiinnaiid  ;  a^^reeable  in  liis  coinnun  intercourse,  <;(^nlle  and  eoiirteons  in  lii? 
maimers  j  patioiU  ami  persevering  inider  all  diirienlties.  His  body  was  enclosed 
in  tlie  trindv  of  a  green  oak,  and  conveyed  to  the  middle  of  die  Mississippi, 
where  it  wag  snidc  in  nineteen  fathoms  water.  Thus  tlio  first  di-eovcrer  cl' 
tlie  Mississiiipi  River  made  his  grave  in  the  bosom  of  its  waters. 

II   Supposed  to  be  the  salines  ol'  the  Wadiit.-i  River, 

^  Nassonis, 


108 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


I 


diiclio,*  and  Lficamo.  Wc  made  inq\iu-ics  here  about  the  province  of 
Xuarnfi'iw.  The  cacique  of  Naudacho  gave  us  a  guide  to  conduct  us 
through  the  country.  lie  led  us  accordingly  into  a  wilderness,  and 
when  we  got  there  he  told  us  that  his  master  had  ordered  him  to  take 
us  to  a  country  where  we  should  die  with  hunger.  We  now  took 
another  guide,  who  conducted  us  to  the  province  of  Tfais,  where  we 
saw  buffaloes,  liut  the  Indians  prevented  us  from  killing  them.  "NVe 
came  to  Xuacalin,  and  passed  some  small  villages,  without  finding  any 
provisions.  We  then  returned  towards  the  south,  determined  to  die 
or  reacli  Xew  Spain.  Wo  continued  to  march  in  this  direction  eight 
or  nine  days  more,  hoping  to  provide  ourselves  with  provisions  for 
the  journej-.f  We  arrived  at  last  at  some  miserable  huts,  where 
the  Indians  lived  by  hunting  and  fishing,  and  finding  that  our  corn 
must  soon  give  out,  avc  resolved  to  return  to  the  village  where  Go- 
vernor Soto  had  died,  to  build  some  vessels  to  return  to  our  country. 
T3ut  when  wc  arrived  there  we  did  not  find  the  facilities  we  had  ex- 
pected, and  were  obliged  to  seek  another  place,  to  go  into  winter 
quarters,  and  build  our  vessels. 

God  permitted  us  to  find  two  villages  to  suit  our  purposes,|  upon  the 
Great  Eiver.S  These  villasjes  were  fortified.  AVe  remained  here  six 
months  to  build  seven  briguntiues.  We  launched  them  on  the  river, 
and  it  was  a  miracle  they  did  not  leak.  They  sailed  well,  although 
they  M'ere  calked  with  the  thin  bark  of  mulberry  trees.  When  we 
embarked  the  troops  we  intended  if  we  could  find  a  village  on  the  sea- 
shore to  stop  there,  until  we  could  send  two  brigantines  with  dispatches 
to  the  Viceroy  of  New  Spain,  to  send  us  vessels  to  return  in  to  Spain. 
On  the  second  day  out,  as  wo  wore  descending  the  river,  some  forty 
or  fifty  canoes  came  towards  us,  in  one  of  which  were  eighty  warriors. 
They  shot  arrows  at  us,  and  captured  some  of  the  small  canoes  we  had 
taken  with  us,  in  which  were  twelve  of  our  best  soldiers.  The  cur- 
rent of  the  river  was  so  rapid  that  we  could  not  go  to  their  assistance. 
Encouraged  by  this  victory,  the  Indians  continued  to  harass  us  until 


•   Nagoiloclies. 

f  Tlio  march  of  Moscoso  west  of  the  Mississippi  was  pvidently  on  the  hunt- 
ing-grounds of  the  far  west,  and  got  upon  tho  prairies,  where  in  many  parts 
they  were  little  better  than  deserts. 

J  Aniinoya  and ,  supposed  to  have  been  situated  in  the  npigUborhood 

■  if  the  present  town  of  Helena,  a  few  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Arkansas 
River. 

§  ^Toscoso  and  his  followers  committed  themselves  to  the  ^lisslssippi  on  the 
fownd  of  July,  1543, 


EXI'F.DrnON  OF  IIEnNANDO  T)E  S(»T(t. 


lOit 


we  rc'aclie(l  tlic  «■:!,  wliifli  took  us  nineteen  days.  They  snon  dis- 
covercd  that  we  had  neither  aniuehusos  nor  cross-bows  to  reach  tliem. 
The  only  arms  we  hud  were  sonic  swords  and  shiehls,  consequently 
they  had  nothing  to  fear  from  us.  Wo  entered  tlic  sea  through  one  of 
the  mouths  of  the  river,*  and  for  three  days  and  niglits  we  could  not  see 
hind,  but  after  that  wc  came  in  sight  of  it,  and  took  in  some  water  to 
drink.  At  length  we  pi'rceived  towards  the  west  some  small  islands, 
which  wc  followed,  keeping  close  to  the  shoro,t  to  fuid  sonu'thing  to 
eat,  until  we  entered  the  lliver  Panuco,  where  we  were  kindly  received 
by  the  inhabitants. 

Signed  LUIS  FERNANDEZ  DE  BTEDMA, 

*  The  Mi<>i~sippi.  Til."  biilian  name  of  this  rivor,  says  do  la  Vef;a,  on  the 
aiitliorily  of  Juan  Cclcs,  one  of  De  Soto's  ililknvors,  was  ClnuiaKua.  In  one 
place  they  called  it  Tamalisen,  in  another  Tapata,  and  where  it  enters  the  sea, 
Ki.     Tlie  Spaniards  ealled  it  "La  raUisade,"  "  A'lo  EsromUilo,"  or  the  lost  river. 

t  The  Spaniards  went  to  sea  on  the  18th  July,  and  arrived  in  the  river 
Taniieo  on  the  lOdi  September,  1513.  The  inhabitants  of  Panuco,  says  Garci- 
laso  de  la  Vei;a,  were  all  touched  with  pity  at  bcholdini,'  this  forlorn  remnant  of 
the  gallant  armament  of  the  renowned  Hernando  de  Soto.  They  were  black- 
ened, haggard,  shriveled,  and  half  naked,  bein;,'  ehul  only  with  tlie  skins  of 
deer,  biillliloes,  bears,  and  other  animals,  looking  more  like  wild  beasts  than 
hutniui  bcin''-^. 


- 


;    ■:l 


■it 


w 


:       I 


i    i 


-ate^ 


A    NARRATIVE 


OF  THE 


EXrEDITION  or  IIEllNANDO  DE  SOTO 


INTO 


F  L  0  li  I D  A . 

BY  A   GENTLEMAN   OF  ELVAS, 

PUBLISHED  AT  EVORA  luJ7. 
TRANSLATED  FROM  THE  PORTUGUESE 

BY 

RICHARD  HACKLUYT 

LONDON,  1609. 


I 


m 
m 


I 


II  in   M  .1- 


I^Sl 


M    ^i, 


I  |i    tii 


!•,!  ;( 


A   NARRATIVE 


OF  TUB 


EXPEDITION  OF  HERNANDO  DE  SOTO 


1 


INTO 


FLORIDA. 


Captain  Soto  was  the  son  of  a  squire  of  Xvrez  of  Badajor.. 
He  went  into  the  Spanish  Indies,  when  Pclcr  Arias  of  Ariki  was 
Governor  of  the  West  Indies.  And  there  he  was  without  anything 
else  of  his  own,  save  his  sword  and  target :  and  for  his  good  quali- 
ties and  valor,  Fetcr  Arias  made  him  captain  of  a  troop  of  horsemen, 
and  hy  his  commandment  he  went  with  Fernando  Pizarro  to  the 
conquest  of  Fern :  where  (as  many  persons  of  credit  reported,  which 
were  there  present)  as  well  at  the  taking  of  Atahalijxi,  Lord  of  Fern, 
as  at  the  assault  of  the  city  of  Cnsco,  and  in  all  other  places  where 
they  found  resistance,  wheresoever  he  was  present,  he  passed  all  other 
captains  and  principal  persons.  For  which  cause,  besides  his  part  of 
the  treasure  of  A(ubalij)a,  he  had  a  good  share  j  whereby  in  time  he 
gathered  a  hundred  and  four  score  thousand  ducats  together,  with 
that  which  fell  to  his  part;  which  ho  brought  into  Spain;  whereof 
the  Emperor  borrowed  a  certain  part,  which  he  repaid  again  with 
00,000  rials  of  plate  in  the  rent  of  the  silks  of  (n'ranada,  and  all  the 
rest  was  delivered  him  in  the  contractation  house  of  Seville.  He  took 
servants  to  wit,  a  steward,  a  gentleman  usher,  pages,  a  gentleman  of 
the  horse,  a  chamberlain,  lackeys,  and  all  other  officers  that  the  house  of 
a  noble  may  require.  From  Seville  he  went  to  the  court,  and  in  the 
court,  there  accompanied  him  John  Danuseo  of  Seville,  and  Lewis 
Moscoso  U' Alvarado,  iV^it/io  de  Touar,  and  Juhn  Rodriguez  Lohillo. 
9 


i 


m\ 


I 


114 


HISTORICAL  COLLECriOXS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


|5       1| 


fi^  'f 


Except  .7o/(«  Danvsco,  all  the  rest  came  with  him  from  7' ;•« ;  antl 
everyone  of  them  hroiiglit  fourteen  or  fifteen  thnuHiinJ  ducats:  all 
of  tiiera  went  well  and  costly  appareled.  And  although  *So^>  of  his 
own  nature  was  not  liheral,  yet  because  that  was  the  first  time  that 
he  was  to  show  himself  in  the  court,  he  spent  frankly,  and  went 
accompanied  with  those  which  I  have  named,  and  with  his  servants, 
and  many  others  which  resorted  unto  him.  lie  married  with  Donna 
Jsahdia  ih  Jii>Ui(U//(i,  daughter  of  JVt<r  Jrias  of  Aiiln,  Earl  of 
Punno  en  Jios(ro.  The  Emperor  made  him  the  (iovernor  of  the  Islo 
of  Cuba,  and  Adclantado  or  President  of  Florida;  with  a  title  of 
Marijuis  of  certain  part  of  the  lands  that  he  should  conquer. 

AVhen  Don  Fcrdlnando  had  obtained  the  government,  there 
came  a  gentleman  from  the  Indies  to  the  court,  named  Calxra  dc 
Vaca,  which  had  been  with  the  Governor  Pamphilo  dc  Karracr. 
which  died  in  Florida,  who  reported  that  A'^arvac  was  cast  away  at 
sea  with  all  the  company  that  went  with  him.  And  how  he  with 
four  more  escaped  and  arrived  in  Xuc.va  Eqnina.  Also  ho  brought 
a  relation  in  writing,  of  that  which  he  had  seen  in  Florida;  which 
said  in  some  places :  In  such  a  place  I  have  seen  this ;  and  the  rest 
which  here  I  saw,  I  leave  to  confer  of  between  his  jMajesty  and  my- 
self. Generally  he  reported  the  misery  of  the  country,  and  the 
troubles  which  he  passed :  and  he  told  some  of  his  kinsfolk,  which 
were  desirous  to  go  into  the  Indies,  and  urged  him  very  much  to  tell 
them  whether  he  had  seen  any  rich  country  in  Florida,  that  he 
might  not  tell  them,  because  he  and  another,  whose  name  was  Oranfrs, 
(who  remained  in  jVacra  Fsjjaita  with  purpose  to  return  into 
Florida:  for  which  intent  he  came  into  Spain  to  beg  the  govern- 
ment thereof  of  the  Emperor)  had  sworn  not  to  discover  some  of 
those  things  which  they  had  seen,  because  no  man  should  prevent 
them  in  begging  the  same.  And  he  informed  them  ihat  it  2cas  the 
richest  cuuntri/  of  the  world.  Don  Ferdinando  de  Soto  was  very 
desirous  to  have  him  with  him,  and  made  him  a  favorable  ofl'er :  and 
after  they  were  agreed,  because  Soto  gave  him  not  a  sum  of  money 
which  he  demanded  to  buy  a  ship,  they  broke  off  again.  Baltusar  dc 
Galleyos,  and  Chrintojjher  dc  Spindola,  the  kinsmen  of  Calcra  dc 
Vaca,  told  him,  that  for  that  which  he  had  imparted  to  them,  they 
were  resolved  to  pass  with  Soto  into  Florida,  and  therefore  they 
prayed  him  to  advise  them  what  they  were  best  to  do.  Cahera  dc 
Vaca  told  them,  that  the  cause  why  he  went  not  with  Suto,  was  be- 
cause he  hoped  to  beg  another  government,  and  that  he  was  loth  to 
go  under  the  command  of  another :  and  that  he  came  to  beg  the  con- 


EXPEDITION  OF  HERNANDO  DE  SOTO. 


115 


It:  and 
its:  all 
0  of  liis 
ne  that 
,d  went 
crvants, 

Jhnna 
Earl  of 
tbc  Isle 

title  of 

t,    there 
lUra  dc 
Kufnu:: 
away  at 
be  with 
brought 
i;  which 
i  the  rest 
aud  niy- 
and  the 
Ik,  which 
ich  to  tell 

that  he 

Oninh's, 
;urn  into 
iG  govern- 

Bome  of 
d  prevent 
it  u-as  the 

was  very 
ofler:  and 

of  money 
Uallusar  de. 
Caha;a  dc 
thcni,  they 
•eforc  they 
Cahtnt  de 
ito,  was  be- 
was  loth  to 
)eg  the  con- 


m 


fjuost  of  Florida;  but  seeing  Don  Firdliniiido  df  Soto  had  gotten  it 
alreaily,  for  liis  oath's  sake  he  might  tell  them  nothing  of  fliat  which 
they  would  know:  but  he  counseled  them  to  sell  their  goods  and  go 
with  him,  and  that  in  so  doing  tiicy  should  do  well.  As  soon  as  ho 
had  opportunity,  he  spake  with  the  Emperor,  and  related  unto  iiim 
whatsoever  he  had  passed  and  seen,  and  come  to  understand.  Of  this 
relation,  made  by  word  of  mouth  to  the  Emperor,  the  Marquis  of 
jUfuri/ii  had  notice,  and  forthwith  determined  to  send  with  JJoit  Ft  r- 
dlnando  dc  Solo  his  brother  Don  Anton lo  Osorln:  and  with  him  two 
kinsmen  of  his  prepared  themselves,  to  wit,  Francis  Osorln,  and 
Garcia  Osorln.  Don  Antonio  dispossessed  himself  of  GO,00(l  rials 
of  rent  which  he  held  by  the  church;  and  Francis  Osorlo  of  a  town 
of  vassals,  wliich  he  had  in  the  country  dc  Campos.  And  they 
made  their  rendezvous  with  the  Adelantado  in  Seville.  The  like  did 
Kuiic:  de  Touar,  and  Lewis  dc  Moscoso,  and  .fuhn  Rodrlyiic::  Lobltln, 
each  of  whom  had  brought  from  Peru  fourteen  or  iifteen  thousand 
ducats.  Lewis  de  JIoscoso  carried  with  him  two  brethren;  there  went 
also  Don  Carlos,  which  had  married  the  governor's  niece,  and  took 
her  with  him.  From  Jiadajo::  there  went  Piter  Caldcran,  and  three 
kinsmen  of  the  Adelantado,  to  wit.  Arias  Tlnoco,  Alfonso  Itomn,  and 
Dlc(jo  'rinoco.  And  as  Lcicls  de  Moscoso  passed  through  Fleas'^ 
Andrew  de  VasconccI(js  spake  with  him,  and  requested  him  to  speak 
to  Don  Fcrdlnando  dc  Solo  concerning  him,  and  delivered  him  cer- 
tain warrants  which  he  bad  received  from  the  Marquis  of  Villa  lx<al, 
wherein  he  gave  him  the  captainship  of  Ccnia  in  JJarbarle,  that  he 
might  show  them  unto  him.  And  the  Adelantado  saw  them;  and  was 
informed  who  he  was,  and  wrote  unto  him,  that  he  would  favor  hiui 
in  all  things,  and  by  all  means,  and  would  give  him  a  charge  of  men 
in  Florida.  And  from  Fleas  went  Andrew  dc  Wisconcdus,  and  Fcr- 
nan  Pcijado,  Antonio  Martinez  Seyurado,  Men  Ilolz  Perelra,  Jolm 
Cordero,  Stephen  Petjado,  Benedict  Fernandcr:,  and  Aharo  Fernandez. 
And  out  of  Salamanca,  and  Jaen,  and  Valencia,  and  Albuquerque, 
and  from  other  parts  of  Sjialn,  many  people  of  noble  birth,  assem- 
bled at  Secill'',  insomuch  that  in  Saiut  Lucar  many  men  of  good 
account,  which  had  sold  their  goods,  remained  behind  for  want  of 
shipping,  whereas  for  other  known  and  rich  countries,  they  are  wont 
to  want  men :  and  this  fell  out  by  occasion  of  that  which  Cabeca,  dc 
Vaca'\  told  the  Emperor,  and  informed  such  persons  as  he  had  con- 

*   Elvas  is  fi  city  in  Portn;;ul. 

f  Cabeya  de  Vaca  was  the  Governor  of  the  River  of  Plate. 


>A 


!»     i 


IIG 


HISTORirAL  COLLKCTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


foroncc  withal  touching  tho  state  of  that  country.  Soto  niado  him 
grojit  offers,  and  being  iigrood  to  go  with  hiui  (as  1  have  said  before) 
because  he  would  not  give  him  money  to  pay  for  a  nhip,  which  he  had 
bought,  they  brake  off,  and  he  went  for  governor  to  tlie  river  of  Phttc. 
lli.s  Isinsmen,  ('/in'xtojihrr  df  Sphidnld  and  Jinl/amr  <fc  (laZ/cf/fiK,  went 
with  Siifo.  JJafffUfiir  dr  (/nHrijos  sold  houses  and  vineyards,  and  rent 
corn,  and  ninety  ranks  of  olive  trees  in  tho  Xarafc  of  Seville,  lie  had 
the  office  of  Jlrahk  Mttyor,  and  took  his  wife  with  him.  And  there 
went  also  many  other  persons  of  account  with  the  President,  and  had 
the  offices  following  by  great  friendship,  because  they  were  offices 
desired  of  many,  to  wit,  Antunie  <le  Jilalma  was  factor,  John 
Dcmmco  was  auditor,  and  Jo/in  d'ai/tan,  nephew  to  the  Cardinal  of 
Ci<jiicma,  had  tho  office  of  treasurer. 

Tho  Portuguese  departed  from  Blcna  the    15th  of  January,  and 
came  to  Scvillr  tho  I'Jth  of  tho  same  montlr  and  went  to  the  lodging 
of  tho  Governor,  and  entered  into  a  court,  over  the  which  were  certain 
galleries  where  he  was,  who  came  down   and  received  them  at  the 
stairs,  whereby  thoy  went  up  into  the  galleries.     "When  lie  was  come 
up,  ho  commanded  chairs  to  be  given  them  to   sit  on.     And  Andrew 
de  Yiuamcelos  told  him  who  he  and  the  other  I'ortugucso  were,  and 
how  they  all  were  come  to  accompany  him,  and  serve  him  in  his 
voyage.     He  gave  him  thanks,  and  made  fehow  of  great  contentment 
for  his  coming  and  offer.     And  tho  table  being  already  laid,  he  in- 
vited them  to  dinner.     And  being  at  dinner,  ho  commanded  his 
steward  to  seek  a  lodging  for  them  near  unto  his  own,  where  they 
might  be  lodged.     The  vVdelantado  departed  from  Seville  to  Snint 
Lucar  with  all  the  people  which  were  to  go  with  him.     And  he  com- 
luauded  a  muster  to  be  made,  at  the  which  the  Portuguese  showed  them- 
selves armed  in  ver_,  bright  armor,  and  the  Castellans  very  gallant 
with  silk  upon  silk,  with  many  pinkings  and  cuts.    The  Governor,  be- 
cause these  braveries  in  such  an  action  did  not  like  him,  commanded  that 
they  should  muster  another  day,  and  every  one  should  come  forth 
with  his  armor  J  at  tlic  which  the  Portuguese  camo  as  at  the  first  armed 
with  very  good  armor.     Tho  Governor  placed  them  in  order  near 
unto  the  standard,  which  the  ensign  bearer  carried.     The  Castellans, 
for  the  most  part,  did  wear  very  bad  and  rusty  shirts  of  mail,  and  all 
of  them  head-pieces  and  steel  caps,  and  very  bad  lances.     Some  of 
them  sought  to  come  among  the  Portuguese.     So  those  passed  and 
were  counted  and  enrolled  which  Soto  liked  and  accepted  of,  and  did 
accompany  him  into  Florida;  which  were  in  all  six  hundred  men. 
He  had  already  bought  seven  ships,  and  had  all  necessary  provision 


■EXPEDITION  OF  IIEUNANDO  DE  SOTO. 


117 


lie  liiin 

bi?foro) 
I  lu'  liail 
f  riatc. 
\o»,  went 
and  rent 

He  had 
nd  there 

and  had 
re  ofliees 
or,  John 
irdinal  of 

lary,  and 
le  lodging 
;rc  certain 
!m  at  the 
was  come 
,d  Andrvio 
were,  and 
im  in  hi3 
'.itentmcut 
aid,  he  in- 
landed   his 
vhorc  they 
0  to  Saint 
nd  he  com- 
owcd  thein- 
•ery  gallant 
ovcruor,  be- 
nandcd  that 
come  forth 
e  first  armed 
order  near 
Castellans, 
mail,  and  all 
;s.     Some  of 
;c  passed  and 
d  of,  and  did 
undrcd  men. 
iary  provision 


aboard  thorn.  Ho  appointed  eaptainn,  and  delivered  to  every  one  liis 
ship,  and  gave  tlioni  iti  u  roll  what  people  every  one  should  carry  with 
them. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  15:]S,  in  the  niunth  of  April,  the  Adoluii- 
tado  dolivorod  his  ships  to  the  captains  which  wore  to  go  in  tin  iii  ; 
and  took  for  himself  a  now  ship,  and  good  of  sail,  and  gave  annther 
to  Andrew  tie  Va»ronrrloa/ii\  ^s\\\c\\.  the  J'ortugno.se  went ;  he  went 
over  the  bar  of  St.  Luntr  im  Siimlay,  being  Sf.  Ld-Mnm  day,  in  the 
niiirniiig  of  the  niontii  and  year  afore.-^aid,  with  jrrt'at  jny,  commanding 
hi.s  trumpets  to  l)e  sounded,  and  many  shots  of  the  ordnance  to  be 
discharged.  He  sailed  four  days  with  a  prosperous  wind,  and  sudtlonly 
it  calmed  ;  the  calms  continued  eight  days  with  swelling  seas,  in  sucli 
wise  that  wt?  maih;  no  way.  The  tifteenth  day  after  his  d<'])arture  from 
St.  Ijurnr,  he  came  to  (Innuni,  one  of  the  Cumtn'f.i,  on  Eastor  day 
in  the  mnniiiig.  The  Karl  of  tliat  island  was  apparoloil  all  in  white, 
cloak,  jerkin,  hose,  shoes  and  cap,  so  that  he  seemed  a  Lord  of  the 
Gip.sios.  lie  received  the  (lovernor  with  much  joy;  ho  was  well 
lo(lgi>(l,  and  all  the  n-st  had  their  lodgings  gratis,  and  gut  great  store 
of  victuals  lor  their  money,  as  bread,  wine,  and  ilesh;  and  they  took 
what  was  needful  for  their  ships,  and  the  Sunday  following,  eight  days 
after  their  arrival,  they  de2)arted  from  the  Isle  of  Oomera.  The  Karl 
gave  to  Dunna  Isabella,  the  Adelantado's  wife,  a  bastard  iliughter 
that  he  hiid,  to  be  her  waiting-maid.  They  arrived  at  tin;  Aiitillis,  in 
the  Isle  of  Vuha,  at  the  port  of  the  city  of  *SV.  .Af//",  upon  \\'hit-suiiday. 
As  .soon  as  they  came  thither,  a  gentleman  of  the  city  sent  to  the  sea-side 
a  very  fair  roan  horse,  and  well  furnished,  for  the  Governor,  and  a  mulo 
for  Dunna  Isabella,  and  all  the  horsemen  and  footmen  that  were  in 
the  town  came  to  receive  him  at  the  sea-side.  The  (jovcrnorwas  well 
lodged,  visited,  and  served  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  city,  and  all 
his  company  had  their  lodgings  freely :  tho.se  which  desired  to  go  into 
the  country,  were  divided  by  four  and  four,  and  six  and  six,  in  the 
farms  or  granges,  according  to  the  ability  of  the  owners  of  the  farms, 
and  were  furnished  by  them  with  all  things  necwssary. 

The  city  of  St.  Jayo  hath  fourscore  houses,  which  are  great  and  well 
contrived.  The  most  part  have  their  walls  made  of  boards,  and  are 
covered  with  thatch ;  it  hath  some  houses  built  with  lime  and  stones, 
and  covered  with  tiles.  It  hath  great  orchards  and  many  trees  in  them, 
differing  from  these  of  Spain :  there  be  fig  trees  which  bear  figs  as  big 
as  one's  fist,  yellow  within,  and  of  small  taste;  and  other  trees  which 
bear  a  fruit  which  they  call  Anancs,  in  making  and  bigness  like  to  a 
small  pineapple:  it  is  a  fruit  very  sweet  in  tasto :  the  shell  being  taken 


-ifmm 


i    '1 


lis 


lIlSTOUIfAT,  COU.F.rTlONS  OF  T.OUI.SfAXA. 


uway,  tlio  konii'l  \n  like  a  picco  of  fresh  i-lici.'so.  fn  the  <rrii?i;,'(':'« 
ubmail  in  the  onmitry  then'  aro  r»thor  <rn'at  jiiiii'Jipiik'H,  whirh  <.'row 
on  I((W  trocM,  and  urn  Wh'  thu  Aloe  true:  tht'y  arc  of  a  very  ^""•lI  ^'nu■Il 
ami  ix('i!('(lin<^  ;.'iki(1  tasto.  Other  trofs  <lo  Ittar  a  fruit  whicli  tlicycull 
Manu'iH,  Iff  till'  |pi;^'n('SH  of  jruu-Iich.  This  tho  islanders  do  hold  for 
the  bcHt  fruit  of  tho  country.  There  is  aiiotlu-r  fruit  which  they  call 
(hiayabas,  lik(!  iilherts,  as  hii^as  figs.  Tlu^re  are  other  trees  as  high 
us  a  javelin,  havini^  one  only  stock  without  any  l)ou;,di,  and  the  leaves 
as  loiii^  as  a  castin;j:  dart;  and  the  fruit  is  of  the  liigncss  and  fashion 
of  a  eueuniher;  out!  hunch  heareth  twenty  or  thirty,  and  as  they  rij)on 
the  tree  bendeth  downward  with  them  :  they  are  called  in  this  country 
I'lanf alios,  and  aru  of  a  good  taste,  and  ripen  after  they  be  gathered  ; 
but  those  are  the  better  which  rijien  upon  the  tree  itself;  they  bear 
fruit  but  once,  and  the  tree  being  cut  down,  there  spring  up  others 
out  of  the  but,  which  bear  fruit  the  next  year.  There  is  another  fruit, 
whereby  many  people  are  sustained,  and  chiisiiy  tho  slaves,  which  are 
called  IJatatas.  These  grow  now  in  tho  Isle  of  Tcrrera,  belonging  to 
the  kingdom  of  J'arfu'/d/,  and  they  grow  within  the  earth,  and  are 
like  a  fruit  called  Tnanu;;  they  have  almost  tho  taste  of  a  chestnut. 
The  bread  of  this  country  is  also  made  of  roots  which  are  like  tho 
IJatatas.*  And  the  stock  whereon  those  roota  do  grow  is  like  an  elder 
tree  :  they  make  their  ground  in  little  hillocks,  and  in  each  of  them 
they  thrust  four  or  five  stakes  ;  and  they  gather  the  roots  a  year  and 
a  half  after  they  set  them.  If  any  one,  thinking  it  is  a  batata  or 
potato  root,  chance  to  eat  of  it  never  so  little,  he  is  in  great  danger  of 
death  :  which  was  seen  by  experience  in  a  soldier,  which  as  soon  as 
he  had  eaten  a  very  little  of  one  of  those  root.s,  he  died  quickly.  They 
pare  these  roots  and  stamp  them,  and  squeeze  them  in  a  thing  like  a 
press :  the  juice  that  cometh  from  them  is  of  an  evil  smell.  The 
bread  is  of  little  taste  and  less  suljstanco.  Of  the  fruits  of  ff^win, 
there  arc  figs  and  oranges,  and  they  bear  fruit  all  the  yeai",  because  the 
soil  is  very  rank  and  fruitful.  In  this  country  are  many  good  horses, 
and  there  is  green  grass  all  the  year.  There  be  many  wild  oxen  and 
hogs,  whereby  the  people  of  the  island  arc  well  furnished  with  flesh. 
"Without  the  towns  abroad  in  the  country  are  many  fruits.  And  it 
happeneth  sometimes  that  a  Christian  gooth  out  of  the  way  and  is 
lost  fifteen  or  twenty  days,  because  of  the  many  paths  in  the  thick 
groves  that  cross  to  and  fro  made  by  the  oxen ;  and  being  thus  lost 
they  sustain  themselves  with  fruits  and  palmitos — for  there  be  many 

•  The  Cassavi  root. 


EXrriMTION  (»F  IIKIINANDO  DK  SOTO. 


Mil 


it'll  ;.'r(tw 

DOll  ><lllt'll 

thoy  call 

hdlfl  f<ir 
thoy  call 
s  as  lii;ili 
the  leaves 
1(1  fashion 
hey  ripen 
is  country 
gathered  ; 
they  hear 
up  others 
»ther  fruit, 
which  ivro 
lon";in'J'  to 
h,  and  are 
A  chestnut, 
■c  like  the 
ce  an  elder 
h  of  them 
a  year  and 
,  batiita  or 
t  danger  of 
as  soon  as 
dy.     They 
hing  like  a 
niell.     The 

of  fi}niin, 
because  the 
^ood  horses, 
Id  oxen  and 
[  with  flesh. 
ts.     And  it 

way  and  is 
1  the  thick 
ns  thus  lost 
re  be  many 


great  groves  of  palm  trees  tlinmgh  all  the  island — they  yi<ld  no  uther 
fruit  that  is  of  any  profit,  Tlie  i^Ki  of  ('u/xi  is  tline  hundred  leagues 
lung  from  the  east  to  the  west,  and  is  in  .some  plai'es  thirty,  in  others 
forty  leagues  from  north  to  south.  It  hath  six  towns  of  Christians, 
to  wit,  »SV.  .A\'/",  liantroii,  /iiti/mnn,  }*niTto  <fr  I'rinrlpt'g,  S.  A'spin'to, 
and  //iiiiitui.  Kvery  one  hath  between  thirty  and  forty  households, 
except  »SV.  ./////•>  and  //nraiiii,  which  have  about  sixty  or  eighty  houses, 
'i'liey  have  churches  in  each  of  them,  and  a  chaplain  which  confcsseth 
them  and  saitli  mass.  In  »SV.  ,/(i(jn  is  a  monastery  of  Franciscan 
friars;  it  hath  but  few  friars,  and  is  well  provided  of  alms,  because 
the  country  is  rich.  Tlu;  Church  of  St.  Jikjo  hath  honest  revenue, 
and  there  is  a  curate  and  jirehends,  and  many  priests,  as  the  church  of 
that  city,  which  is  the  thief  of  all  the  island.  There  is  in  this  coun- 
try much  gold  and  few  slaves  to  get  it;  for  many  have  made  away 
themselves,  Iwcause  of  the  Christians'  evil  usage  of  them  in  the  mines. 
A  steward  of  Vm^ipic:  Pomtf/o,  which  was  an  inhabitor  in  that  isjantl, 
untlerstanding  that  his  slaves  would  make  away  themselves,  stayed  fur 
them  with  a  cudgel  in  his  hand  at  the  place  where  they  were  to  meet, 
and  told  them  that  they  cnuld  neither  do  nor  think  anything  that  he 
did  not  know  before,  and  that  he  came  thither  to  kill  himself,  with 
them,  to  the  end,  that  if  he  had  used  them  badly  in  this  world,  he 
might  uso  them  worse  in  the  worhl  to  come :  and  this  was  ii.  means 
that  they  changed  their  purpose,  and  turned  home  again  to  do  that 
wdiich  ho  commanded  them. 

The  (jiovernor  sent  from  St.Jaijn  his  nephew  Don  C*«>7o,s,  with  the 
ships  in  company  of  Donna  habdla  to  tarry  for  him  at  Havana, 
which  is  a  haven  in  the  west  part  toward  the  head  of  the  island, 
one  hundred  and  eighty  leagues  from  the  city  of  *SV.  Jatjo.  The 
(iovcrnor,  and  those  which  stayed  with  him,  bought  hor.scs  and  pro- 
ceeded on  their  journey.  The  first  town  they  came  unto  was  lini/mno: 
they  were  lodged  four  and  four,  and  six  and  six,  as  they  went  in  com- 
pany, and  where  they  lodged,  they  took  nothing  for  their  diet,  for 
nothing  cost  them  aught  save  the  maize  or  corn  for  their  horses,  be- 
cause the  Governor  went  to  visit  them  from  town  to  town,  and  seized 
them  in  the  tribute  and  service  of  the  Indians.  Bai/avw  is  twenty- 
five  leagues  from  the  city  of  St.  Jaijo.  Near  unto  the  town  pas.setli 
a  great  river  which  is  called  Tanto ;  it  is  greater  than  Guadiana,  and 
in  it  be  very  great  crocodiles,  which  sometimes  hurt  the  Indians,  or 
the  cattle  which  passeth  the  river.  In  all  the  country  are  neither 
wolf,  fox,  bear,  lion,  nor  tiger.  There  are  wild  dogs  which  go  from 
the  houses  into  the  woods  and  feed  upon  swine.     There  be  certain 


/>>] 


?: 


^1'  .'I 


uuOMi 


120 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


■a 


m 


1 


ill 


snakes  as  big  as  a  man's  thigh  or  bigger ;  they  are  very  slow,  they  do 
no  kind  of  hurt.  From  Bai/nmo  to  Puerto  dc  los  Pn'ncipcs  are  fifty 
leagues.  In  all  the  island  from  town  to  town,  the  way  is  made  by 
stubbing  up  the  underwood ;  and  if  it  be  left  but  one  year  undone, 
the  wood  groweth  so  much  that  the  way  cannot  be  seen,  and  the  paths 
of  the  oxen  are  so  many,  that  none  can  travel  without  an  Indian  of 
the  country  for  a  guide :  for  all  the  rest  is  very  high  and  thick  woods. 
From  Puerto  de  los  Principes  the  Governor  went  to  the  house  of  Vas- 
tjiiez  Porcallo  by  sea  in  a  boat  (for  it  was  near  the  sea)  to  know  there 
some  news  of  Donna  Isabella,  which  at  that  instant  (as  afterwards 
Avas  known)  was  in  great  distress,  insomuch  that  the  ships  lost  one 
another,  and  two  of  them  fell  on  tlu  ^oast  of  Florida,  and  all  of  them 
endured  great  want  of  water  and  victuals.  When  the  storm  was  over, 
they  met  together  without  knowing  where  they  were  :  in  the  end  they 
descried  the  Cape  of  St.  Ariton,  a  country  not  inhabited  of  the  island 
of  Cuba ;  there  they  watered,  and  at  the  end  of  forty  <lay.s,  which 
were  passed  since  their  departure  from  the  city  of  St.  Jaijo,  they  ar- 
rived at  Havana.  The  Governor  was  presently  informed  thereof,  and 
went  to  Donna  Isabella.  And  those  which  went  by  land,  which  were 
one  hundred  and  fifty  horsemen,  being  divided  into  two  parts,  because 
they  would  not  oppress  the  inhabitants,  traveled  by  >S'/.  E)ipirito,  which 
is  sixty  leagues  from  Puerto  de  los  Princijies.  The  food  which  they 
carried  with  them  was  Cagabe  bread,  which  is  that  whereof  I  made 
mention  before  :  and  it  is  of  such  a  quality  that  if  it  be  wet  it  breaketh 
presently,  whereby  it  happened  to  some  to  eat  flesh  without  bread  for 
many  days.  They  carried  dogs  with  them,  and  a  man  of  the  country, 
which  did  hunt ;  and  by  the  way,  or  where  they  were  to  lodge  that 
night,  they  killed  as  many  hogs  as  they  needed.  In  this  journey 
they  were  well  provided  of  beef  and  pork,  and  they  were  greatly 
troubled  with  musquitoes,  especially  in  a  lake,  which  is  called  the 
mere  of  Pia,  which  they  had  much  ado  to  pass  from  noon  till  night. 
The  water  might  be  some  half  league  over,  and  to  be  swam  about  a 
crossbow  shot;  the  rest  came  to  the  waist,  and  they  waded  up  to  the 
knees  in  the  mire,  and  in  the  bottom  were  cockle  shells,  which  cut 
their  feet  very  sore,  in  such  sort  that  there  was  neither  boot  nor 
shoe  sole  that  was  whole  at  half  way.  Their  clothes  and  saddles 
were  passed  in  baskets  of  palm  trees.  Passing  this  lake,  stripped  out 
of  their  clothes,  there  came  many  mosquitoes,  upon  whose  biting 
there  arose  a  wheal  that  smarted  very  much;  they  struck  them  with 
their  hands,  and  with  the  blow  which  they  gave  they  killed  so  many 
that  the  blood  did  run  down  the  arms  and  bodies  of  the  men.     That 


EXrEDITIOX  OP  HERNANDO  DE  SOTO. 


121 


,  they  do 
<  are  fifty 
made  by 
undone, 
the  paths 
Indian  of 
ck  woods. 
se  of  Vos- 
now  there 
afterwards 
3  lost  one 
dl  of  them 
1  was  over, 
3  end  they 
the  island 
ays,  which 
0,  they  ar- 
hereof,  and 
which  were 
rts,  because 
irifo,  wliich 
which  they 
3of  I  made 
it  breaketh 
it  bread  for 
he  country, 
lodge  that 
his  journey 
rere  greatly 
;  called  the 
n  till  night, 
am  about  a 
d  up  to  the 
?,  which  cut 
er  boot  nor 
and  saddles 
stripped  out 
vhose  biting 
k  them  with 
ed  so  many 
men.     That 


night  they  rested  very  little  for  them,  and  other  nights  also  in  the 
like  places  and  times.  They  came  to  Santo  Kspin'ti),  wliidi  is  a  town 
of  thirty  houses;  there  passeth  by  it  a  little  river;  it  is  very  pleasant 
and  fruitful,  having  great  store  of  oranges  and  citrons,  and  fruits  of 
tlie  country.  One-half  of  the  company  were  lodged  here,  and  the 
rest  passed  forward  twenty-five  leagues  to  another  town  called  la 
Trhudml,  of  fifteen  or  twenty  househokls.  Hero  is  an  hospital  for 
the  poor,  and  there  is  none  other  in  all  the  island.  And  they  say 
that  this  town  was  the  greatest  in  all  the  country,  and  that  before  the 
Christians  came  into  this  land,  as  a  ship  passed  along  the  coast 
there  came  in  it  a  very  sick  man,  which  desired  the  captain  to  set 
him  on  shore,  and  the  captain  did  so,  and  the  ship  went  her  way. 
The  sick  man  remained  set  on  shore  in  that  country,  which  until  then 
had  not  been  haunted  by  Christians;  whereupon  the  Indians  found 
hitn,  carried  him  home,  and  looked  unto  him  till  he  was  whole ;  and 
the  lord  of  that  town  married  him  unto  a  daughter  of  his,  and  had 
war  with  all  the  inhabitants  round  about,  and  by  the  industry  and 
valor  of  the  Christian,  he  subdued  and  brought  under  his  command 
all  the  people  of  that  island.  A  great  while  after,  the  Governor 
Dirijo  Vehisi2ucs  went  to  conquer  it,  and  from  thence  discovered  Xcw 
Spain.  And  this  Christian  which  was  with  the  Indians  did  pacify 
them,  and  brought  them  to  the  obedience  and  subjection  of  the  go- 
vernor. From  this  town  (h  (a  I'n'ni'dad  unto  Havana  are  eighty 
leagues,  without  any  habitation,  which  they  traveled.  They  came 
to  Havana  in  the  end  of  ^larch,  where  they  found  the  Governor,  and 
the  rest  of  the  people  which  came  with  him  from  Sjkiih.  The  Go- 
vernor sent  from  Havana  John  Dainmsco  with  a  caravele  and  two 
brigantines  with  fifty  men  to  discover  the  haven  of  Florida,  and  from 
thence  he  brought  two  Indians  which  he  took  upon  the  coast,  where- 
with (as  well  because  they  might  be  necessary  for  guides  and  for  inter- 
preters, as  because  they  said  by  signs  that  there  was  much  gold  in 
Florida)  the  (Jovernor  and  all  the  company  received  much  content- 
ment, and  longed  for  the  hour  of  their  departure,  thinking  in  himself 
that  this  was  the  richest  country  that  unto  that  day  had  been  dis- 
covered. 

Before  our  departure  the  Governor  deprived  Kmio  de  Tonar  of 
the  office  of  Captain-general,  and  gave  it  to  Forrallo  dc  Fiijucroa,  an 
inhabitant  of  ('aba,  which  was  a  mean  that  the  ship  was  well  fur- 
nished with  victuals  ;  for  he  gave  a  great  many  loails  of  ('amhc.  bread 
and  many  hogs.  The  Governor  took  away  this  office  from  Kuno  de 
Tuuar,  because  he  had  fallen  in  love  with  the  daughter  of  the  Earl 


Htil 

w 


i. 


i  I:   <l 


'i 


II 


,1. 


!   ! 


fl 


:1 


122 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


of  Gomcrn,  Donna  IsaheUn's  waiting-maid,  who,  though  his  office 
were  taken  from  him  (to  return  again  to  the  Governor's  favor),  though 
she  were  with  child  by  him,  yet  took  her  to  his  wife,  and  went  with 
Soto  into  FloriiJa.  The  Governor  left  Donna  hahclla  in  Havana, 
and  with  her  remained  the  wife  of  Don  Carlos^,  and  the  wives  of  Bal- 
taaar  de  GaUe//os,  and  of  N^uno  do.  Touar.  And  he  left  for  his  lieu- 
tenant a  gentleman  of  Havana,  called  John  de  Roias,  for  the  govern- 
ment of  the  island. 

On  Sunday  the  18th  of  May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1539,  the 
Adelantado  or  president  departed  from  Havana  in  Cuba  with  his 
fleet,  which  were  nine  vessels,  five  great  ships,  two  caravels,  and  two 
brigan tines.  They  sailed  seven  days  with  a  prosperous  wind.  The 
25th  day  of  May,  the  day  de  Pasca  de  Spirito  Santo*  (which  we 
call  Whitson  Sunday),  they  saw  the  land  of  Florida,  and  because  of 
the  shoals,  they  came  to  an  anchor  a  league  from  the  shore.  On 
Friday  the  30th  of  May  they  landed  in  Florida,  two  leagues  from  a 
town  of  an  Indian  lord  called  Urita.  They  set  on  land  two  hundred 
and  thirteen  horses,  which  they  brought  with  them  to  unburden  the 
ships,  that  they  might  draw  the  less  water,  lie  landed  all  his  men, 
and  only  the  seamen  remained  in  the  ships,  which  in  eight  days, 
going  up  with  the  tide  every  day  a  little,  brought  them  up  unto  the 
town.  As  soon  as  the  people  were  come  on  shore,  he  pitched  his 
camp  on  the  sea-side,  hard  upon  the  bay  which  went  up  unto  the 
town.  And  presently  the  Captain-general,  Vasquez  Porcallo,  with 
other  seven  horsemen  foraged  the  country  half  a  league  round  about, 
and  found  six  Indians,  which  resisted  him  with  their  arrows,  which 
are  the  weapons  which  they  used  to  fight  withal.  The  horsemen  killed 
two  of  them,  and  the  other  four  escaped;  because  the  country  is  cum- 
bersome with  woods  and  bogs,  where  the  horses  stuck  fast,  and  fell 
with  their  riders,  because  they  were  weak  with  traveling  upon  the 
sea.  The  same  night  following,  the  Governor  with  an  hundred  men 
in  the  brigantines  lighted  upon  a  town,  which  he  found  without 
people,  because  that  as  soon  as  the  Christians  had  sight  of  laud,  they 
were  descried,  and  saw  along  the  coast  many  smokes,  which  the  In- 
dians had  made  to  give  advice  the  one  to  the  other.  The  next  day 
Lvi/s  de  Moscoso,  master  of  the  camp,  set  the  men  in  order,  the  horse- 
men in  three  squadrons,  the  vanguard,  the  battalion,  and  the  rereward  ; 
and  so  they  marched  that  day  and  the  day  following,  compassing  great 
creeks  which  came  out  of  the  bay.     They  came  to  the  town  of  Ucita, 

•  Tampa  Bay,  on  the  west  side  of  Florida. 


I"! 


EXPEDITION  OF  HERNANDO  DE  SOTO. 


1-23 


his  office 
r),  though 
went  with 
1  Havana, 
res  of  Bal- 
)r  his  lieu- 
he  govcrn- 

1539,  the 
a  with  his 

I,  and  two 
Find.     The 

(which  we 

because  of 
;hore.     On 
;ues  from  a 
tvo  hundred 
burden  the 
1  his  men, 
eight  days, 
up  unto  the 
pitched  his 
ip  unto  the 
trcallo,  with 
ound  about, 
rows,  which 
semen  killed 
ntry  is  cum- 
'ast,  and  fell 
ig  upon  the 
undred  men 
md  without 
f  laud,  they 
lich  the  In- 
iie  next  day 
2r,  the  horse- 
[le  rereward ; 
passing  great 
wn  of  Ucitu, 


where  the  Governor  was  on  Sunday  the  first  of  Juno,  being  Trinity 
8uiiilay.  The  town  was  of  seven  or  eight  houses.  The  lord's  house 
stood  near  the  shore  upon  a  very  high  mount,  made  by  hand  for 
strength.  At  another  end  of  the  town  stood  the  church,  and  on  the 
top  of  it  stood  a  fowl  made  of  wood  with  gilded  eyes.  Here  were 
found  sonic  pearls  of  small  value,  spoiled  with  the  fire,  which  the  In- 
dians do  pierce  and  string  them  like  beads,  and  wear  them  about  their 
necks  and  liandwrists,  and  they  esteem  them  very  nmch.  The  houses 
were  made  of  timber,  and  covered  with  palm  leaves.  The  Clovernor 
lodged  himself  in  the  lord's  houses,  and  with  him  Vaiojnc^  ForcaUo^ 
cad  Luys  dc  Moac.oso  ;  and  in  others  that  were  in  the  midst  of  the 
town,  was  the  chief  Alcalde  or  justice,  Baltamr  de  (lalhtjos  lodged  ; 
and  in  the  same  houses  was  set  in  a  place  by  itself  all  the  provision 
that  came  in  the  ships ;  the  other  houses  and  the  church  were  broken 
down,  and  every  three  or  four  soldiers  made  a  little  cabin  wherein 
they  lodged.  The  country  round  about  was  very  fenny,  and  encumbered 
with  great  and  high  trees.  The  Governor  commanded  to  fell  the 
woods  a  crossbow  shot  round  about  the  town,  that  the  horses  might 
run,  and  the  Christians  might  have  the  advantage  of  the  Indians,  if 
by  chance  they  should  set  upon  them  by  night.  In  the  ways  and 
places  convenient  they  had  their  sentinels  of  footmen  by  two  and  two 
in  every  stand,  which  did  watch  by  turns,  and  the  horsemen  did  visit 
them,  and  were  ready  to  assist  them  if  there  were  any  alarm.  The 
Governor  made  four  captains  of  the  horsemen  and  two  of  the  footmen. 
The  captains  of  the  horsemen  were  one  of  them  Andrew  dc  Masconcelos, 
and  another  Pedro  Calderan  de  Badqjoz  ;  and  the  other  two  were  his 
kinsmen,  to  wit.  Arias  Timoco,  and  Alfonso  Homo,  born  likewi.se  in 
Badajoz.  The  captains  of  the  footmen,  the  one  was  Francisco 
3J(ddonado  of  Salamanca,  and  the  other  Juan  liodriguex  LohlUo, 
"While  we  were  in  this  town  of  Ucita,  the  two  Indians  which  John 
Danusco  had  taken  on  that  coast,  and  the  Governor  carried  along  with 
him  for  guides  and  interpreters,  through  carelessness  of  two  n)cn 
which  had  the  charge  of  them  escaped  aw;iyone  night;  for  which  the 
Governor  and  all  the  rest  were  very  sorry,  for  they  had  already  made 
some  roads,  and  no  Indians  could  bo  taken,  because  the  country  was 
full  of  marsh  grounds,  and  in  some  places  full  of  very  high  and  thick 
woods. 

From  the  town  of  Ucita  the  Governor  sent  the  Alcalde  mayor, 
Balta&ar  de  Gallcgos,  with  forty  horsemen  and  eighty  footmen  into 
the  country  to  see  if  they  could  take  any  Indians ;  and  the  Captain 
John  Rodriguez  Lohillo  another  way  with  fifty  footmen  :  the  most  of 


m 


t 


124 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


them  were  swordsmen  and  targctcra,  and  the  rest  were  shot  and  cross- 
bowmen.  Tlicy  passed  througli  a  country  full  of  bogs,  where  horses 
could  not  travel.  Half  a  league  from  the  camp  they  lighted  upon 
certain  cabins  of  Indians  near  a  river.  The  people  that  were  in  them 
leaped  into  the  river,  yet  they  took  four  Indian  women.  And  twenty 
Indians  charged  us  and  so  distressed  us,  that  we  were  forced  to  retire 
to  our  camp,  being,  as  they  are,  exceeding  ready  with  their  weapons. 
It  is  a  people  so  warlike  and  so  nimble,  that  they  care  not  a  whit  for 
any  footmen.  For  if  their  enemies  charge  them  they  run  away,  and  if 
they  turn  their  backs  they  are  presently  upon  them.  And  the  thing 
that  they  most  flee  is  the  shot  of  an  arrow.  They  never  stand  still, 
but  are  always  running  and  traversing  from  one  place  to  another,  by 
reason  whereof  neither  crossbow  nor  arquebuss  can  aim  at  them;  and 
before  one  crossbowman  can  make  one  shot  an  Indian  will  discharge 
three  or  four  arrows,  and  he  seldom  misseth  what  he  shooteth  at.  An 
arrow  where  it  findeth  no  armor,  pierceth  as  deeply  as  a  crossbow. 
Their  bows  are  very  long,  and  tlu'ir  arrows  a'-e  made  of  certain  canes 
like  reeds,  very  heavy,  and  so  strong  that  a  sharp  cane  passeth  through 
a  target.  Some  they  arm  in  the  point  with  a  sharp  bone  of  a  fish 
like  a  chisel,  and  in  others  they  fasten  certain  stones  like  points  of 
diamonds.  For  the  most  part  when  they  light  upon  an  armor  they 
break  in  the  place  where  they  are  bound  together.  Those  of  cane  do 
split  and  pierce  a  coat  of  mail,  and  are  more  hurtful  than  the  other. 
John  licnln'yiio::  Lobillo  returned  to  the  camp  with  six  men  wounded, 
whereof  one  died ;  and  brought  the  four  Indian  women  which  Bal- 
tasar  GaUprfo."  had  taken  in  the  cabins  or  cottages.  Two  leagues 
from  the  town,  coming  into  the  plain  field,  he  espied  ten  or  eleven 
Indians,  among  whom  was  a  Christian,  which  was  naked  and  scorched 
with  the  sun,  and  had  his  arms  razed  after  the  manner  of  the  Indians, 
and  diflered  nothing  at  all  from  them.  And  as  soon  as  the  horsemen 
saw  them  they  ran  toward  them.  The  Indians  fled,  and  some  of  them 
hid  themselves  in  a  wood,  and  they  overtook  two  or  three  of  them 
which  were  wounded;  and  the  Christian  seeing  a  horseman  run  upon 
him  with  his  lance,  began  to  cry  out,  "Sirs,  I  am  a  Christian,  slay  mo 
not,  nor  these  Indians,  for  they  have  saved  my  life."  And  straight- 
way he  called  them  and  put  them  out  of  fear,  and  they  came  forth  of 
the  wood  unto  them.  The  horsemen  took  both  the  Christian  and 
the  Indians  up  behind  them,  and  toward  night  came  into  the  camp 
with  much  joy ;  which  thing  being  known  by  the  Governor,  and  them 
that  remained  in  the  camp,  they  were  received  with  the  like. 

This  Christian's  name  was  JoJm  Ortiz,  and  he  was  born  in  StviUe, 


M 


)t  and  cros3- 
horc  horses 
gbted  upon 
rero  in  them 
And  twenty 
ccd  to  retire 
iir  weapons. 
)t  a  whit  for 
iway,  and  if 
id  the  tiling 
stand  still, 
another,  by 
t  them ;  and 
ill  discharge 
itcth  at.    An 
a  crossbow, 
certain  canes 
iseth  through 
ine  of  a  fish 
ke  points  of 
armor  they 
le  of  cane  do 
n  the  other, 
en  wounded, 
which  Bal- 
Two  leagues 
m  or  eleven 
ind  scorched 
the  Indian?, 
le  horsemen 
!ome  of  them 
ree  of  them 
n  run  upon 
tian,  slay  me 
nd  straight- 
ame  forth  of 
hristian  and 
0  the  camp 
or,  and  them 
iko. 
n  in  StviUe, 


EXPEDITION  OF  HERNANDO  DE  SOTO. 


125 


1 


of  worshipful  parentage.  lie  was  twelve  years  in  the  hands  of  the 
Indians,  lie  came  into  this  country  with  Pamj>Jiilo  de  Narvaez,  and 
returned  in  the  ships  to  the  Island  of  Ouba,  where  the  wife  of  the 
Govoruor  Pamphilo  de  Xnrcaez  was,  and  by  his  comuiaudnient  with 
twenty  or  thirty  others  in  a  brigantine  returned  back  again  to  iturida, 
and  coming  to  the  port  in  the  sight  of  the  town,  on  the  shore  they 
saw  a  cane  sticking  in  the  ground,  and  riven  at  the  top,  and  a  letter 
in  it ;  and  they  believed  that  the  governor  had  left  it  there  to  give 
advertisement  of  himself  when  he  resolved  to  go  up  into  the  land, 
and  they  demanded  it  of  four  or  live  Indians  which  walked  along  the 
sea-shore,  and  they  bade  tlicni  by  signs  to  come  on  shore  for  it, 
which  against  the  will  of  the  rest  Jvhn  Ortiz  and  another  did.  And 
as  soon  as  they  were  on  laud,  from  the  houses  of  the  town  issued  a 
great  number  of  Indians,  which  compassed  them  about  and  took  them 
in  a  place  where  they  could  not  flee ;  and  the  other,  which  sought  to 
defend  himself,  they  presently  killed  upon  the  place,  and  took  Julin 
Orti::  alive,  and  carried  him  to  Uclta  their  lord.  And  those  of 
the  brigantine  sought  not  to  land,  but  put  themselves  to  sea,  and  re- 
turned to  the  Island  of  Cuba.  Uct'ta  commanded  to  bind  John  Ortiz 
hand  and  foot  upon  four  stakes  aloft  upon  a  raft,  and  to  make  a  fire 
under  him,  that  there  he  might  be  burned.  But  a  daughter  of  his 
desired  him  that  he  would  not  put  him  to  death,  alleging  that  one  only 
Christian  could  do  him  neither  hurt  nor  good,  telling  him  that  it  was 
more  for  his  honor  to  keep  him  as  a  captive.  And  i'cita  granted  her 
request,  and  commanded  him  to  be  cured  of  his  wounds ;  and  as  soon 
as  ho  was  whole  he  gave  him  the  charge  of  the  keeping  of  the  tem- 
ple, because  that  by  night  the  wolves  did  carry  away  the  dead  corpses 
out  of  the  same — who  commended  himself  to  God  and  took  upon  him 
the  charge  of  his  temple.  One  night  the  wolves  got  from  him  the 
corpse  of  a  little  child,  the  son  of  a  principal  Indian,  and  going  after 
them  he  threw  a  dart  at  one  of  the  wolves,  and  struck  him  that  car- 
ried away  the  corpse,  who,  feeling  himself  wounded  left  it,  and  fell 
down  dead  near  the  place ;  and  he  not  wotiug  what  he  had  done,  be- 
cause it  was  night,  went  back  again  to  the  temple ;  the  morning  being 
come  and  finding  not  the  body  of  the  child,  he  was  very  sad.  As 
soon  as  C'cita  knew  thereof  he  resolved  to  put  him  to  death,  and  sent 
by  the  track  which  he  said  the  wolves  went,  and  found  the  body  of 
the  child,  and  the  wolf  dead  a  little  beyond,  whereat  Ucita  was  much 
contented  with  the  Christian,  and  with  the  watch  which  he  kept  in 
the  temple,  and  from  thenceforward  esteemed  him  much.  Three 
years  after  he  fell  into  his  hands  there  came  another  lord  called 


'hk 


»  1 


M 


f 


oiiFi  mi 


iS 


12G 


IIISTOUICAL  COLLECTIONS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


I 


ii 


1. 1  M 


U'^ 


:i^  i 


I 

1 


i 


i 


3!ncoro,  who  dwclUitli  two  days'  journey  from  the  port,  iitid  burnt  liis 
town.      rcit<(  fled  tn  another  town  that  he  had  in  another  sea-port. 
Thus  John    Orth  lost  his  office  and  favor  that  he  had  with  him. 
These  people  being  worshipers  of  the  devil,  are  wont  to  ofTer  up  unto 
liiin  the  lives  and  blood  of  their  Indians,  or  of  any  other  people  they 
can  come  by;  and  they  report  that  when  he  will  have  them  do  that 
sacrifice  unto  him,  he  speaketh  with  them,  and  telleth  them  that  he 
is  athirst,  and  willeth  them  to  sacrifice  unto  him.     John  Orti::  had 
ixotice  by  th  ^  damsel  that  had  delivered  him  from   the  fire,  how  her 
father  was  determined  to  sacrifice  him  the  day  following,  who  willed 
him  to  flee  to  Mocnro,  for  she  knew  that  he  would  use  him  well ;  for 
she  heard  say  that  he  had  asked  for  him  and  said  he  would  be  glad  to 
sec  him,  and  because  he  knew  not  the  way  she  went  with  him  half  a 
league  out  of  the  town  by  night  and  set  him  in  the  way,  and  re- 
turned because  she  would  not  be  discovered.     John  Ortiz  traveled  all 
that  night,  and  by  the  morning  came  to  a  river  which  is  the  territory 
of  J/ocuro,  and  there  he  saw  two  Indians  fishing;   and  because  they 
were  in  war  with  the  people  of  rdla,  and  their  languages  were  ditl'er- 
ent,  and  he  knew  not  the  language  of  Mocoro,  he  was  afraid,  because 
he  could  not  tell  them  who  he  was,  nor  how  he  came  thither,  nor  was 
able  to  answer  anything  for  himself,  that  they  would  kill  him,  taking 
him  for  one  of  the  Indians  of  Leila,  and  before  they  espied  him  he 
came  to  the  place  where  they  had  laid  their  weapons ;  and  as  soon  as 
they  saw  him  they  fled  toward  the  town,  and  although  he  willed  them 
to  stay,  because  he  meant  to  do  them  no  hurt,  yet  they  understood 
him  not,  and  ran  away  as  fast  as  ever  they  could.     And  as  soon  as 
they  came  to  the  town  with  great  outcries,  many  Indians  came  forth 
against  him,  and  begau  to  compass  him  to  shoot  at  him.     Jolui  Ortiz 
seeing  himself  in  so  great  danger,  shielded  himself  with  certain  trees, 
and  began  to  shriek  out  and  cry  very  loud,  and  to  tell  them  that  he 
was  a  Christian,  and  that  he  was  fled  from  Uvita,  and  was  come  to  see 
and  serve  Mocoro  his  lord.     It  pleased  God  that  at  that  very  instant 
there  came  thither  an  Indian  that  could  speak  the  language  and  un- 
derstood him,  and  pacified  the  rest,  who  told  them  what  he  said. 
Then  ran  from  thence  three  or  four  Indians  to  bear  the  news  to  their 
lord,  who  came  forth  a  quarter  of  a  league  from  the  town  to  receive 
him,  and  was  very  glad  of  him.     lie  caused  him  presently  to  swear 
according  to  the  custom  of  the  Christians,  that  he  would  not  run 
away  from  him  to  any  other  lord,  and  promised  him  to  entreat  him 
very  well;  and  that  if  at  any  time  there  came  any  Christians  into 
that  country,  he  would  freely  let  him  go,  and  give  him  leave  to  go  to 


1 


s*v 


f 


FXI'EDITION  OF  IIKRNANDO  »E  SOTO. 


127 


% 


burnt  luH 
■  sea-port. 
with  liim. 
r  up  unto 
,^ople  they 
[n  do  that 
m  that  be 
Ortiz  hail 
e,  how  her 
who  willed 
1  well ;  for 
be  glad  to 
him  half  a 
ay,  and  re- 
trsweled  all 
le  territory 
icauKc  they 
were  diiVer- 
:iid,  because 
icv,  nor  was 
him,  taking 
lied  him  he 
I  as  soon  as 
willed  thcin 
r  undcrstoud 
as  soon  as 
;  canie  forth 
Jdliii  Ortiz 
■ertain  trees, 
leni  that  ho 
come  to  see 
very  instant 
age  and  un- 
liat  he  said, 
lews  to  their 
n  to  receive 
itly  to  swear 
uld  not  run 
entreat  him 
iristians  into 
!ave  to  go  to 


them  ;  and  likewise  took  his  oath  to  perform  the  same  according  to 
the  Indian  custom.  About  three  years  after  certain  Indians,  which 
were  fishing  at  sea  two  leagues  from  the  town,  brought  news  to 
Moainj  that  they  had  seen  ships,  and  he  called  John  Ortiz  and  gave 
him  leave  to  go  his  way,  who  taking  his  leave  of  him,  with  all  the 
haste  he  could  came  to  the  sea,  and  fin<ling  no  ships  he  thought  it  to 
be  some  deceit,  and  that  the  caci<iue  had  done  the  same  to  ham  his 
mind.  So  he  dwelt  with  Mocoro  nine  years,  with  small  hope  of  see- 
ing any  Christians.  As  soon  as  our  Governor  arrived  in  Florida^  it 
was  known  to  Marnro,  and  straightway  he  signified  to  John  Ortiz  that 
Cliristians  were  lodged  in  the  town  of  i'cifa  ;  and  he  thought  he  had 
jested  with  him  as  he  had  done  before,  and  told  him  that  by  this  time 
he  had  forgotten  the  Christians,  and  thought  of  nothing  else  but  to 
serve  him.  Uut  he  assured  him  that  it  was  so,  and  gave  him  license 
to  go  unto  them,  saying  unto  him  that  if  he  would  not  do  it,  and  if 
the  Cliristians  should  go  their  way,  lie  should  not  blame  him,  for  he 
had  fultilled  tuat  whicli  he  had  promised  him.  The  joy  of  Juhii  Ortiz 
was  so  great,  that  he  could  not  believe  that  it  was  true ;  notwithstand- 
ing he  gave  him  thanks,  and  took  his  leave  of  him,  and  Mocoro  gave 
Lim  ten  or  eleven  pi'incipal  Indians  to  bear  him  company;  and  as  they 
went  to  the  port  where  the  (Jovcrnor  was,  they  met  with  Bultamr  dc 
(.ia//(yoK,  as  I  have  declared  before.  As  soon  as  he  was  come  to  the 
camp,  the  Governor  commanded  to  give  him  a  suit  of  apparel,  and 
very  good  armor,  and  a  fair  horse ;  and  inquired  of  him  whether  he 
had  notice  of  any  country  where  there  was  any  gold  or  silver.  lie 
answered,  No,  because  ho  never  went  ten  leagues  compass  from  the 
place  where  he  dwelt ;  but  that  thirty  leagues  from  thence*  dwelt  an 
Indian  lord,  which  was  called  Faracossi,  to  whom  Mocoro  and  Ucita, 
with  all  the  rest  of  that  coast  paid  tribute,  and  that  he  peradventurc 
might  have  notice  of  some  good  country,  and  that  his  land  was  better 
than  that  of  tlic  sea-coast,  and  more  liuitful  and  plentiful  of  maize. 
"Whereof  the  Governor  received  great  contentment,  and  said  that  he 
desired  no  more  than  to  find  victuals,  that  he  might  go  into  the  main 
laud,  for  the  land  of  Florida  was  so  large,  that  in  one  phice  or  other 
there  could  not  choose  but  be  some  ricli  country.  The  Caci<jnc 
Mocoro  came  to  the  port  to  visit  the  Governor,  and  made  this  speech 


following. 


"  liight  high  and  mighty  lord,  I  being  lesser  in  mine  own  conceit 
for  to  obey  you,  than  any  of  those  which  you  have  under  your  com- 

•  From  Spirito  Santo  or  Tampa  Bay. 


m 

m 


ii 


w^ 


■I'' 

% 

■ill 


i 


r 


gH 


I  f 

I 


liH  m 


ill  I 


128 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


luand,  aud  greater  in  desire  to  do  you  greater  services,  do  appear  be- 
fore your  lordship  with  ho  much  confidence  of  receiving  favor,  as  if  in 
cfl'ect  this  my  good  will  were  manifested  unto  you  in  works  ;  not  for 
the  small  service  I  did  unto  you  touching  the  Christian  which  I  had 
in  my  power,  in  giving  him  freely  his  liberty  (for  I  was  bound  to  do 
it  to  preserve  mine  honor,  aud  that  which  I  had  promised  him),  but 
because  it  is  the  part  of  great  men  to  use  great  magnificences.  And 
I  am  persuaded  that  as  in  bodily  perfections,  and  commanding  of  good 
people,  you  do  exceed  all  men  in  the  world,  so  likewise  you  do  in  the 
parts  of  the  mind,  in  which  you  may  boast  of  the  bounty  of  nature. 
The  favor  which  I  hope  for  of  your  lordship  is,  that  you  would  hold  me 
for  yours,  aud  bethink  yourself  to  command  mo  anything  wherein  I 
may  do  you  service." 

The  Governor  answered  him,  "  That  although  in  freeing  and  send- 
ing him  the  Christian,  he  had  preserved  his  honor  and  promise,  yet 
he  thanked  him,  and  held  it  in  such  esteem  as  it  had  no  comparison  ; 
and  that  he  would  always  hold  him  as  his  brother,  and  would  fiivor  all 
things  to  the  utmost  of  his  power."     Then  he  commanded  a  shirt  to 
be  given  him,  and  other  things,  wherewith  the  cacique  being  very 
well  contented,  took  his  leave  of  him,  and  departed  to  his  own  town. 
From  the  Port  ilc  S2)ii'i(o  Saiilo  where  the  Governor  lay,  he  sent 
the  Alcalde  Mayor  Baltasar  dc  Galleijos  with  fifty  horsemen,  aud 
thirty  or  forty  footmen  to  the  province  of  Paracossi,  to  view  the  dis- 
position of  the  country,  aud  inform  himself  of  the  land  farther  in- 
ward, and  to  send  iiim  word  of  such  things  as  he  found.     Likewise 
he  sent  his  ships  back  to  the  Island  of  Cuba,  that  they  might  return 
within  a  certain  time  with  victuals.      Vusfjitcz  Porcallo  dc  Fiyueroa, 
which  went  with  the  Governor  as  Captain-general,   (whose  principal 
intent  was  to  send  slaves  from  Florida  to  the  Island  of  Oidja,  where 
ho  had  his  goods  and  mines,)  having  made  some  inroads,  and  seeing 
no  Indians  were  to  be  got,  because  of  the  great  bogs  and  woods  that 
were  in  the  country,  considering  the  disposition  of  the  same,  deter- 
mined to  return  to  CuLa.     And  though  there  was  some  difierenco  be- 
tween him  and  the  Governor,  whereupon  they  neither  dealt  nor  con- 
versed together  with  good   countenance,  yet   notwithstanding  with 
loving  words  he  asked  him  leave  and  departed  from  him.     Baltasar 
de  Gallctjus  came  to  the  ParacossL    There  came  to  him  thirty  Indians 
from  the  cacique,  which  was  absent  from  his  town,  and  one  of  thcni 
made  this  speech : 

"  Paracossi,  the  lord  of  this  province,  whose  vassals  we  are,  send- 


EXPEDITION  OF  IIEUNANDO  DE  SOTO. 


i2r> 


pear  be- 
,  as  if  in 
J  not  for 
ih  I  had 
nd  to  do 
lim),  but 
1)3.     Ami 
g  of  good 
do  in  the 
)f  nature. 
i  hold  me 
vvhercia  I 

and  send- 
•omisc,  yet 
iiuparison ; 
Id  favor  all 

a  shirt  to 
being  very 

own  town, 
ay,  he  sent 
semen,  and 
ew  the  dis- 

farther  in- 
Likewise 
light  return 
le  Fkjueroa, 
»se  principal 
Oaha,  where 
,  and  seeing 
1  woods  that 

same,  deter- 
lifference  be- 
ialt  nor  con- 
tanding  with 
n.  BaUasar 
thirty  Indians 

one  of  them 

we  are,  send- 


etli  us  unto  your  wor*<liip,  to  know  what  it  is  that  you  seek  in  this  hi,- 
country,  and  whoroiu  ho  may  do  you  service." 

JidlUmir  (le  ii'allrjos  said  unto  him  that  he  thanked  them  very 
nmeh  for  tlieir  offer,  willing  them  to  warn  their  lord  to  come  to  lu> 
town,  and  that  there  they  would  talk  and  coulinu  their  i)eace  and 
friumlship,  which  he  much  desired.  The  Indians  went  their  way  and 
returned  nci.xt  da}',  and  said  that  their  hjrd  was  ill  at  ease,  and  there- 
fore could  not  come;  hut  that  they  came  on  his  behalf  to  see  what  he 
demanded,  lie  asked  them  if  they  knew  or  had  notice  of  any  ricli 
country  where  there  was  gold  or  silver.  They  told  him  they  did. 
and  that  towards  the  west  there  was  a  province  which  was  called 
Vale ;  and  that  others  that  iidiabited  other  countries  had  war  with  tin 
people  of  that  country,  where  the  most  part  of  the  year  was  summer, 
aud  that  there  was  nmch  gold ;  and  that  when  those  their  enemies 
came  to  make  war  with  them  of  Cale,  these  i!ihabitauts  of  Cale  did 
wear  hats  of  gold,  in  manner  of  head-pieces.  BaUasar  dc  Gallnjot^ 
seeing  that  the  cacique  came  not,  thinking  all  that  they  said  was 
feigned,  with  intent  that  in  the  meantime  tliey  might  set  them- 
selves in  safety,  fearing  that  if  he  did  let  them  go,  they  would  re- 
turn no  more,  commanded  the  thirty  Indians  to  be  chained,  and  seni 
word  to  the  Governor  by  eight  horsemen  what  had  pa.ssed ;  whereof 
the  Governor  with  all  that  were  with  him  at  the  Port  de  SpifUc 
tS'iiito  received  great  comfort,  supposing  that  that  which  the  Indians 
r(.'ported  might  be  L.nie.  He  left  Captaiu  Valdenin  at  the  port,  with 
thirty  horsemen  and  seventy  footmen,  with  provision  for  two  years, 
aud  himself  with  all  the  rest  marched  into  the  main  laud,  and  cann; 
to  the  Paraeu&sl,  at  whose  town  Bidfaaar  dc  0\dl(i/iis  was;  and  fron, 
thence  with  all  his  men  took  the  way  to  Gale,  lie  passed  by  a  littK 
town  called  Accla,  and  came  to  another  called  Toraate ;  aud  fnuii 
thence  he  went  before  with  thirty  horsemen  and  fifty  Ibotmeu  toward.- 
Cale.  And  passing  by  a  town  whence  the  peoi)le  were  fled,  they  saw 
Indians  a  little  distance  from  thence  in  a  lake,  to  whom  the  interpreter 
spoke.  They  came  unto  them  and  gave  them  an  Indian  for  a  guide : 
and  he  came  to  a  river  with  a  great  current,  and  upon  a  tree  wliiel. 
was  in  the  midst  of  it,  was  made  a  bridge,  whereon  the  men  passed  : 
tlie  horses  swam  over  by  a  hawser,  that  they  were  pulled  by  from  the 
other  side ;  for  one,  which  they  drove  in  at  the  first  without  it,  was 
drowned.  From  thence  the  Governor  sent  two  horsemen  to  his  people 
that  were  behind,  to  make  haste  after  him ;  because  the  way  grew 
Ion;!',  and  their  victuals  short,  lie  came  to  Cale,  and  found  the  towii 
without  people.  lie  took  three  Indians  which  were  spies,  aud  tarried 
10 


:i 


!.' 


',  1.) 


m 

!'   ,1f 


.''  1'. 


y'\\ 


'.I 


•    i  19 

'  m 


I 


180 


niSTORICAL  COLLKCTIONS  OP  LOUISfAVA. 


there  for  liis  people  tliat  came  uftcr,  which  wc^re  sore  vexed  with  iiuri- 
ger  and  evil  ways,  beeause  the  c(tuntry  was  very  barren  of  maize, 
low,  and  fu'l  of  water,  bogs,  and  tliiek  woods  ;  and  the  victuals  which 
they  brought  with  them  from  the  Port  do  Splrlto  Santo,  were  spent. 
Wheresoever  any  town  was  found,  there  w(ire  some  beets,  and  he  that 
came  first  gathered  them,  and  sodden  with  water  and  salt,  did  eat  them 
without  any  other  thing ;  and  such  as  could  not  get  them,  gathered 
the  stalks  of  maize  and  eat  them,  which  because  they  were  young  had 
no  maize  in  them.  When  they  came  to  the  river  which  the  (jovernor 
had  passed,  they  found  palmitos  upon  low  palm  trees  like  those  of 
Andalusia.  There  they  met  with  the  two  horsemen  which  the  Go- 
vernor sent  unto  them,  and  they  brought  news  that  in  Vale  there  was 
plenty  of  maize,  at  which  news  they  all  rejoiced.  As  soon  as  they 
came  to  Calc,  the  Governor  commanded  them  to  gather  all  the  maizo 
that  was  ripe  in  the  field,  which  was  sufficient  for  three  months.  At 
the  gathering  of  it  the  Indians  killed  three  Christians,  and  one  of  them 
which  were  taken  told  the  Governor,  that  within  seven  days'  journey 
there  was  a  very  great  province,  and  plentiful  of  maize,  which  was 
called  Ajndachc.  And  presently  he  departed  from  Cale  with  fifty 
horsemen,  and  sixty  footmen,  lie  left  the  master  of  the  camp,  Lnijs 
de  Moscow,  with  all  the  rest  of  the  people  there,  with  charge  that  he 
ijhould  not  depart  thence  until  he  had  word  from  him.  And  because 
hitherto  none  had  gotten  any  .slaves,  the  bread  that  every  one  was  to 
eat  he  was  fain  himself  to  beat  in  a  mortar  made  in  a  piece  of  tinibei", 
with  a  pestle,  and  some  of  them  did  sift  the  flour  through  their  shirts 
of  mail.  They  baked  their  bread  upon  certain  tileshares  which  they 
set  over  the  fire,  in  such  sort  as  heretofore  1  have  said  they  used  to  do 
in  Cuba.  It  is  so  troublesome  to  grind  their  maize,  that  there  were 
many  that  would  rather  not  eat  it  than  grind  it ;  and  did  eat  the 
maize  parched  and  sodden. 

The  second  day  of  August,  1530,  the  Governor  departed  from 
Cale;  he  lodged  in  a  little  town  called  Ytara,  and  the  next  day  in  ano- 
ther called  Potano,  and  the  third  day  at  L'tiitama,  and  came  to  ano- 
ther town  which  they  named  the  town  of  Uvil  jyeaic ;  because  an  In- 
dian came  in  peace,  saying,  that  he  was  the  cacique,  and  that  he 
with  his  people  would  serve  the  Governor,  and  that  if  he  would  set 
free  twenty-eight  persons,  men  and  women,  which  his  men  had  taken 
the  night  before,  he  would  command  provision  to  be  brought  him,  and 
would  give  him  a  giiide  to  instruct  him  in  his  way.  The  Governor 
commanded  them  to  be  set  at  liberty,  and  to  keep  him  in  safeguard. 
The  next  day  in  the  morning  there  came  many  Indians,  and  set  them- 


EXPEDITION  OF  HERNANDO  DE  SOTO. 


iin 


solvos  round  al)out  Iho  town  near  to  a  wood.  TIic  Iinli.ni  \vi>li('il 
thcMi  to  curry  him  near  tliein,  and  fliat  liu  would  sjxak  unto  tlicni,  and 
asHure  thorn,  and  that  thoy  wouhl  do  whatsoever  he  coniniandcd  tlieni. 
And  when  ho  saw  himself  near  unto  them  he  broke  fnun  them,  and 
ran  away  so  swiftly  from  the  (Miristians  that  then*  was  none  tliat 
could  overtake  him,  and  all  of  them  fled  into  the  woods.  The  (io- 
vernor  conunandod  to  loose  a  greyhound,  whieh  was  alri'ady  fleshed 
on  them,  whieh  passing  by  many  other  Indians,  eanght  the  eounterfeit 
cacicjue  whieh  had  escai)ed  from  the  Christians,  and  held  him  till  they 
came  to  take  him.  From  thenee  the  (rovernor  lodged  at  a  town  ealled 
Cholupaha,  and  beeauso  it  had  store  of  maize  in  it,  they  named  it 
Villa  farta.  IJeyond  the  same  there  was  a  river,  on  whieh  he  made 
a  bridge  of  timber,  and  traveled  two  days  through  a  desert.  The 
17th  of  August  ho  came  to  Callqwn,  whore  ho  was  informed  of  the 
province  of  Apalachc.  They  told  him  that  Pumphilo  dc  XarviterA\a.i\. 
been  there,  and  that  there  he  took  shipping,  because  he  could  find  no 
"way  to  go  forward.  That  there  was  none  other  town  at  all ;  but  that 
ou  both  sides  was  all  water.  The  whole  company  were  very  sad  for 
this  news,  and  counseled  the  Covernor  to  go  back  to  the  Port  dr 
Spin'to  Siinto,  and  to  abandon  the  country  of  Florida,  lest  he  should 
perish  as  Narvacz  had  done;  declaring  that  if  ho  went  forward,  he 
could  not  return  back  when  he  would,  and  that  the  Indians  would 
gather  up  that  small  ((uatitity  of  mai/c  which  was  loft,  ^\'herounto 
the  Governor  answered  that  ho  would  not  go  back,  till  ho  had  seen 
with  his  eyes  that  which  they  reported ;  saying  that  he  could  not 
believe  it,  and  that  we  should  be  put  out  of  doubt  before  it  were 
long.  And  ho  sent  to  Luys  dc  JiJoseoso  to  come  presently  from 
Vale,  and  that  he  tarried  for  him  there.  Liij/s  dc  Moxcaso  and 
many  others  thought  that  from  Apalache  they  should  return  back; 
and  in  Gale  they  buried  their  iron  .tools,  and  divers  other  things. 
They  came  to  Oalicjiieu  with  great  trouble ;  because  the  country 
which  the  Governor  had  passed  by,  was  spoiled  and  destitute  of 
maize.  After  all  the  people  wore  come  together,  he  commanded  a 
bridge  to  bo  made  over  a  river  that  passed  near  the  town.  Ho 
departed  from  Caliqucn  the  10th  of  September,  and  carried  the  ca- 
cique with  him.  After  he  had  traveled  three  days,  there  came  In- 
dians peaceably  to  visit  their  lord,  and  every  day  met  us  on  the  way 
playing  upon  flutes ;  which  is  a  token  that  they  use,  that  men  may 
know  that  they  come  in  peace.  They  said  that  in  our  way  before 
there  was  a  cacique  whoso  name  was  rrjirhd,  a  kinsman  of  the  cacique 
of  Culiquen  their  lord,  waiting  for  him  with  many  presents,  and  they 


i 


I-  M 


If' 


I,. 


Ill 


i: 


i     1 


'i! 


1 

ir 

1 

a  ;■: 

li:^ 

i;v. 


lltSTOnTrATj  COfXKCTIONM  OF  LOUIHFANA. 


(lo«ir(!'l  tlic  Governor  tliiit  lu!  woiiM  loose  tlit>  ciiL'ique.  TJut  ho  i\()ul(l 
not,  fearing  tliut  tluy  would  rise,  and  would  not  give  hint  any  guides, 
and  sent  tluni  away  from  day  to  day  with  good  word.s  lie  traveled 
five  days;  he  jiasscd  hy  t^onie  small  towns;  he  came  to  a  town  ealK'tl 
XajKdicd,  the  ir)th  day  of  Septemlier.  Thither  came  fourteen  or  lif- 
tecn  Indians,  and  hesought  the  Governor  to  let  Iooho  the  euei(|uc  of 
CaUqurn,  their  lonl.  lie  answered  them  that  he  held  him  not  in 
prison,  hut  that  he  would  have  him  to  aeeomjiany  him  to  I'Mirliil. 
The  Governor  had  no(ic(;  by  Jahii  (fr/i'z,  that  an  Indian  told  him  how 
they  determined  to  gatlur  themselves  together,  and  come  u]iou  him, 
and  give  him  battle,  and  take  fiway  the  caei(|ue  from  hint.  The  day 
that  it  wa.s  agreed  upon,  the  Governor  commanded  his  men  to  he  in 
readiness,  and  that  the  horsemen  should  be  ready  armed  and  on  horse- 
back every  one  in  his  lodging,  because  the  Indians  might  not  see 
them,  and  so  more  eonlideiitly  come  to  the  town.  There  came  lour 
hundred  Indians  in  sight  of  the  camp  with  their  bows  and  arrows, 
and  placed  themselves  in  a  wood,  and  sent  two  Indians  to  bid  the  Go- 
vernor to  deliver  them  the  eacicjue.  The  Governor  with  six  footmen 
leading  the  caci(jue  by  the  hand,  and  talking  with  him,  to  secure  the 
Indians,  went  toward  the  i)lace  where  they  were.  And  seeing  a  fit 
time,  commanded  to  sound  a  trumpet;  and  presently  those  that  were 
in  the  town  in  the  houses,  both  horse  and  foot,  set  upon  the  Indians, 
which  were  so  suddenly  assaulted,  that  the  greatest  care  they  had  was 
which  way  they  should  flee.  They  killed  two  horses ;  one  was  the 
Governor's,  and  he  was  presently  horsed  again  upon  another.  There 
were  thirty  or  forty  Indians  slain.  The  rest  fled  to  two  very  great 
lakes,  that  were  somewhat  distant  the  one  from  the  other.  There  they 
were  swimming,  and  the  (!hristians  round  about  them.  The  caliver- 
mcn  and  crossbowmen  shot  at  them  from  the  bank ;  but  the  distance 
being  great,  and  shooting  afar  off,  they  did  them  no  hurt.  The  Go- 
vernor commanded  that  the  same  night  they  should  compass  one  of 
the  lakes,  because  they  were  so  great,  that  there  were  not  men  enough 
to  compass  them  both  ;  being  be.set,  as  soon  as  night  shut  in,  the  In- 
dians, with  determination  to  run  away,  came  swimming  very  softly  to 
the  bank;  and  to  hide  themselves  they  put  a  water  lily  leaf  on  their 
heads.  The  horsemen,  as  soon  as  they  perceived  it  to  stir,  ran  into 
the  water  to  the  horses'  breasts,  and  the  Indians  fled  again  into  the 
lake.  So  this  night  passed  without  any  rest  on  both  sides.  Jo/ui  Orti:. 
persuaded  them  that  seeing  they  could  not  escape,  they  should  yield 
themselves  to  the  Governor ;  which  they  did,  enforced  thereunto  by  the 
coldness  of  the  water ;  and  one  by  one,  he  first  whom  the  cold  did 


11 


EXJ'KDITION  OF  IIKIINANOO  1)K  80T0. 


l:]3 


first  overi'OiMi',  frii'tl  ti>  Jnhn  Orth,  »lesiriii;j;  tliiit  tlioy  would  not  kill 
him,  for  lio  ciiiiu'  to  put  hiiust'lt'  into  the  liautls  of  the  (lovernor.  My 
tilt!  morning  watch  tlioy  niutlo  iin  ond  of  yicldiii;^  thcmsolvos;  only 
twelve!  itriiu'ipal  men,  \n'AUi*  nioir  liononihli.'  and  valorous  than  the 
rest,  rt'solvi'd  rather  to  dio  than  to  conie  into  his  hands.  And  tlu' 
Indians  of  J'(ini('(mi,  which  wcro  now  loosed  out  of  chains,  went 
Hwiuuning  to  them,  and  pulled  them  out  by  tho  hair  of  their  heads, 
and  they  were  all  put  in  chains,  and  the  next  day  were  divided  among 
the  Christians  for  their  service.  ]>eing  thus  in  captivity,  they  deter- 
mined to  nhel ;  and  gave  in  charge  to  an  Indian  which  was  inter- 
preter, and  held  to  be  valiant,  that  as  soon  as  tho  (iovernor  did  come 
to  speak  with  him,  ho  should  cast  his  hands  about  his  neck,  and 
choke  him  :  who,  when  he  Haw  opportunity,  laid  hands  on  the  (io- 
vernor, and  before  he  cast  his  hands  about  his  neck,  he  gave  him 
such  a  blow  on  the  nostrils,  that  he  made  them  gush  out  with 
blood,  and  presently  all  the  re^t  did  ri,-e.  lie  that  could  get  any 
weapons  at  hand,  or  the  handle  wherewith  he  did  grind  the  maize, 
sought  to  kill  his  master,  or  the  lirst  ho  met  before  him ;  and  he  that 
could  get  a  lance  or  sword  at  hand,  bestirred  himself  in  such  sort  with 
it,  as  though  he  had  used  it  all  his  lifetime.  One  Indian  in  the  mar- 
ket-place enclosed  between  liftcen  or  twenty  footmen,  made;  a  way  like 
u  bull,  with  a  sword  in  his  hand,  till  certain  halbardiers  of  the  (iovernor 
came,  which  killed  him.  Another  got  up  with  a  lance  to  a  loft  made 
of  canes,  which  they  build  to  keep  their  maize  in,  which  they  call  a 
barbacoa,  and  there  he  made  such  a  noise  as  though  ten  men  had 
been  there  defending  the  door;  they  slew  him  with  a  partizan.  The 
Indians  were  in  all  about  two  hundred  men  They  were  all  subdued. 
And  some  of  tho  youngest  the  (Jrovernor  gave  to  them  which  had 
good  chains,  and  were  careful  to  look  to  them  that  they  got  not 
away.  All  tho  rest  he  commanded  to  be  put  to  death,  being  tied 
to  a  stake  in  the  midst  of  the  market-place;  and  the  Indians  ot 
tho  Pdnicmi  did  shoot  them  to  death. 

Tho  (Jovernor  departed  from  Xajxtiicft,  the  2Jid  of  tScptcmber  ;  he 
lodged  by  a  river,  where  two  Indians  brought  him  a  buck  from  the 
cacique  of  U::arh!l.  The  next  day  he  passed  by  a  great  town  called 
Jf((paliij/n,  and  lodged  at  Uznchil,  and  found  no  people  in  it,  be- 
cause tliey  durst  not  tarry  for  the  notice  the  Indians  had  of  the 
slaughter  of  Xaprtnea.  lie  found  in  that  town  great  store  of  maize, 
French  beans,  and  pompions,  which  is  their  food,  and  that  wherewith 
the  Christians  there  sustained  themselves.  Tho  maize  is  like  coarse 
millet,  and  the  pompious  are  better  and  more  savory  than  those  of 


»i 


,T  ); 


I 


134 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


Spain.  From  thence  the  Governor  sent  two  captains  each  a  sundry 
way  to  seek  the  Indians.  They  took  an  hundred  men  and  women  ; 
of  which  as  well  there  as  in  other  place  where  they  made  any  in- 
roads, the  captain  chose  one  or  two  for  the  Governor,  and  divided  the 
rest  to  himself,  and  those  that  went  with  him.  They  led  these  In- 
dians in  chains  with  iron  collars  about  their  necks;  and  they  served 
to  carry  their  stuff,  and  to  grind  their  maize,  and  for  other  services 
that  such  captives  could  do.  Sometimes  it  happened  that  going  for 
wood  or  maize  with  them,  they  killed  the  Christian  that  led  them, 
and  ran  away  with  the  chain ;  others  filed  their  chains  by  night  with 
a  piece  of  stone,  wherewith  they  cut  them,  and  use  it  instead  of  iron. 
Those  that  were  perceived  paid  for  themselves,  and  for  the  rest,  be- 
cause they  should  not  dare  to  do  the  like  another  time.  The  women 
and  young  boys,  when  they  were  once  an  hundred  leagues  from  their 
country,  and  had  forgotten  things,  they  let  go  loose,  and  so  they 
served ;  and  in  a  very  short  space  they  understood  the  language  of 
the  Christians.  From  Uzadill  the  Governor  departed  toward  Apulavhe, 
and  in  two  days'  journey  he  came  to  a  town  called  A.iiUc,  and  from 
thence  forward  the  Indians  were  careless,  because  they  had  as  yet  no 
notice  of  the  Christians.  The  next  day  in  the  morning,  the  first  of 
October,  he  departed  from  thence,  and  commanded  a  bridge  to  be 
made  over  a  river  which  he  was  to  pass.  The  depth  of  the  river 
where  the  bridge  was  made,  was  a  stone's  cast,  and  forward  a  cross- 
bow shot  the  water  came  to  the  waist ;  and  the  wood  whereby  the 
Indians  came  to  see  if  they  could  defend  the  passage,  and  disturb 
those  which  made  the  bridge,  was  very  high  and  thick.  The  cross- 
bowmen  so  bestirred  themselves  that  they  made  them  give  back;  and 
certain  planks  were  cast  into  the  river,  whereon  the  men  passed, 
which  made  good  the  passage.  The  Governor  passed  upon  Wed- 
nesday, which  was  St.  Francis'  day,  and  lodged  at  a  town  which  was 
called  Yitachuco,  subject  to  Ajmlache:  he  found  it  burning,  for  the 
Indians  had  set  it  on  fire.  From  thence  forward  the  country  was 
much  inhabited,  and  had  great  store  of  maize.  He  passed  by  many 
granges  like  hamlets.  On  Sunday,  the  25th  of  October,  he  came  to 
a  town  which  is  called  Uzela,  and  upon  Tuesday  to  Anaica  Aj)alarhe, 
where  the  lord  of  all  that  country  and  province  was  resident ;  in 
which  town  the  camp  master,  whose  office  is  to  quarter  out,  and  lodge 
men,  did  lodge  all  the  company  round  about  within  a  league,  and  half 
a  league  of  it.  There  were  other  towns,  where  was  great  store  of 
maize,  pompions,  French  beans,  and  plums  of  the  country,  which  are 
better  than  those  of  Spain,  and  they  grow  in  the  fields  without  plant- 


EXPEDITION  OF  HERNANDO  DE  SOTO. 


185 


mg. 


The  victuals  that  were  thought  necessary  to  pass  the  winter, 
were  gathered  from  these  towns  to  Anaica  Apalache.  The  Governor 
was  informed  that  the  sea  was  ten  leagues  from  thence.  He  pre- 
sently sent  a  captain  thither  with  horsemen  and  footmen.  And  six 
leagues  on  the  way  he  found  a  town  which  was  named  Ochcfe,  and  so 
came  to  the  sea ;  and  found  a  great  tree  felled,  and  cut  into  piece.^, 
with  stakes  set  up  like  mangers,  and  saw  the  skulls  of  horses.  He 
returned  with  this  news.  And  that  was  held  for  certain,  which  was 
reported  of  Pamphllo  dc  Narvacx,  that  there  he  had  built  the  barks 
wherewith  he  went  out  of  the  land  of  Florkla,  and  was  cast  away  at 
sea.  Presently  the  Governor  sent  John  Damisco  with  thirty  horse- 
men to  the  Part  de  Spirito  Snn/o  where  Caldcnin  was,  with  order 
that  they  should  abandon  the  port,  and  all  of  them  come  to  Apalache. 
He  departed  on  Saturday  the  17tli  of  November.  In  Uzachil  and 
other  towns  that  stood  in  the  way  he  found  great  store  of  people 
already  careless.  He  would  take  none  of  the  Indians,  for  not  hinder- 
ing himself,  because  it  behooved  him  to  give  them  no  leisure  to  gather 
themselves  together.  He  passed  through  the  towns  by  night,  and 
rested  without  the  towns  three  or  four  hours.  In  ten  days  he  carae 
to  the  Port  ih  Spirito  Santo.  He  carried  with  him  twenty  Indian 
women,  which  he  took  in  Yfara,  and  Putano,  near  unto  Vale,  and 
sent  them  to  Donna  Imhilla  in  the  two  caravels,  which  he  sent  from 
the  Port  de  Spirito  S(tnto  to  Cuba.  And  he  carried  all  the  footraeu 
in  the  brigantines,  and  coasting  along  the  shore  came  to  Apalache. 
And  Calderan,  with  the  horsemen,  and  some  crossbowmen  on  foot, 
went  by  land;  and  in  some  places  the  Indians  set  upon  him,  and 
wounded  some  of  his  men.  As  soon  as  he  came  to  A2mlache,  pre- 
sently the  Governor  sent  sawed  planks  and  spikes  to  the  sea-side, 
wherewith  was  made  a  piragua  or  bark,  wherein  were  embarked  thirty 
men  well  armed,  which  went  out  of  the  bay  to  the  sea,  looking  for 
the  brigantines.  Sometimes  they  fought  with  the  Indians,  which 
passed  along  the  harbor  in  their  canoes.  Upon  Saturday,  the  '29th  of 
November,  there  came  an  Indian  through  the  watch  undiscovcreu, 
and  sat  the  town  on  fire,  and  with  the  great  wind  that  blew  tw(> 
parts  of  it  were  consumed  in  a  short  time.  On  Sunday  the  28th 
of  December,  came  John  Danusco  with  the  brigantines.  The  Go- 
vernor sent  Francisco  Maldonado ,  a  captain  of  footmen,  with  fifty 
men  to  discover  the  coast  westward,  and  to  seek  some  port,  because, 
he  bad  determined  to  go  by  land,  and  discover  that  part.  That  day 
there  went  out  eight  horsemen  by  commandment  of  the  Governor  into 
the  field,  two  leagues  about  the  town,  to  seek  Indians;  for  they  were 


ill 


186 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


!  i: 


now  so  emboldened,  that  within  two  crossbow  shot  of  the  camp,  they 
oante  and  slew  men.  They  found  two  men  and  a  woman  gathering 
French  beans ;  the  men,  though  they  might  have  fled,  yet  because 
they  would  not  leave  the  woman,  which  was  one  of  their  wives,  they 
resolved  to  die  fighting;  and  before  they  were  slain,  they  wounded 
fhree  horses,  whereof  one  died  within  a  few  days  after.  Calileran 
going  with  his  men  by  the  sea-coast,  from  a  wood  that  was  near  the 
place,  the  Indians  set  upon  him,  and  made  him  forsake  his  way,  and 
many  of  them  that  went  with  him  forsook  some  necessary  victuals, 
which  they  carried  with  them.  Three  or  four  days  after  the  limited 
time  given  by  the  Governor  to  MahJonado  for  his  going  and  coming, 
being  already  determined  and  resolved,  if  within  eight  days  he  did 
not  come,  to  tarry  no  longer  for  him,  he  came,  and  brought  an  In- 
'lian  from  a  province  which  was  called  Ochns,  sixty  leagues  westward 
from  Apalavhe;  where  he  had  found  a  port  of  good  depth,  and  de- 
fence against  weather.  And  because  the  Governor  hoped  to  find  a 
good  country  forward,  he  was  very  well  contented.  And  he  sent 
Mnhlonaih  for  victuals  to  Havana,  with  order  that  he  should  tarry 
for  him  at  the  port  of  Ochus,  which  he  had  discovered,  for  he  would 
go  seek  it  by  land;  and  if  he  should  chance  to  stay,  and  not  come 
thither  that  summer,  that  then  ho  should  return  to  Havana,  and 
should  come  again  the  next  summer  after,  and  tarry  for  him  at  that 
port;  for  he  said  he  would  do  none  other  thing  but  go  to  seek  Ochus. 
Fvanciseo  Mddonado  departed,  and  in  his  place  for  captain  of  the 
footmen  remained  John  dc  Guzman.  Of  those  Indians  which  were 
taken  in  Napcfuca,  the  Treasurer  Juhn  Gai/tan  had  a  young  man, 
which  said  that  he  was  not  of  that  country,  but  of  another  far  oil" 
toward  the  sun  rising,  and  that  it  was  long  since  he  had  traveled  to 
>eo  countries ;  and  that  his  country  was  called  Yupnha,  and  that  a 
woman  did  govern  it;  and  that  the  town  where  she  was  resident  was 
of  a  wonderful  bigness,  and  that  many  lords  round  about  were  tribu- 
taries to  her;  and  some  gave  her  clothes,  and  others  gold  in  abund- 
ance ;  and  he  told  how  it  was  taken  out  of  the  mines,  and  was  molten 
and  refined,  as  if  ho  had  seen  it  done,  or  the  devil  had  taught  it 
him.  So  that  all  those  which  knew  anything  concerning  the  same, 
said  that  it  was  impossible  to  give  so  good  a  relation,  without  having 
seen  it;  and  all  of  them,  as  if  they  had  seen  it,  by  the  signs  that  he 
gave,  believed  all  that  he  said  to  be  true. 

On  Wednesday,  the  third  of  IMarch,  of  the  year  1540,  the  Go- 
vernor departed  from  Analva  Ajnt/arhe  to  seek  Yiqmha.  lie  com- 
manded his  men  to  go  provided  with  maize  for  sixty  leagues  of  desert. 


EXrEDITION  OF  HERNANDO  DE  SOTO. 


137 


The  hor.'^cnicn  carried  their  maize  on  their  horses,  and  the  footmen  at- 
their  sides ;  because  the  Indians  that  wore  for  service,  with  their 
miserable  life  that  they  led  that  winter,  being  naked  and  in  chains, 
died  for  the  most  part.  Within  four  days'  journey  they  came  to  a  great 
river ;  and  thoy  made  a  piragua  or  ferry  boat,  and  occause  of  the 
groat  current,  thoy  made  a  cable  with  chains,  which  they  fastened  on 
both  sides  of  the  river ;  and  the  ferry  boat  went  along  by  it,  and  the 
horses  swam  over,  being  drawn  with  capstans.  Having  passed  the 
river  in  a  day  and  a  half,  they  came  to  a  town  called  Capnrliiqul. 
Upon  Friday  the  11th  of  jMarch,  they  found  Indians  in  arms.  The 
next  day  five  Chri^^tians  went  to  seek  mortars,  which  the  Indians 
have  to  beat  their  maize,  and  they  went  to  certain  houses  on  the  back 
side  of  the  camp  environed  with  a  wood.  And  within  the  wood  were 
many  Indians  which  came  to  spy  us;  of  the  which  came  other  five 
and  set  upon  us.  One  of  the  Christiar.:'  came  running  away,  giving 
an  alarm  unto  the  camp.  Those  which  were  most  ready  answered 
the  alarm.  They  found  one  Christian  dead,  and  three  sore  wounded. 
The  Indians  fled  unto  a  lake  adjoining  near  a  very  thick  wood,  where 
the  horses  could  not  enter.  The  Governor  departed  from  Capachiqni 
and  passed  through  a  desert.  On  Wednesday,  the  twenty-first  of  the 
month,  he  came  to  a  town  called  Toalll ;  and  from  thence  forward 
there  was  a  difforonco  in  the  houses.  For  those  which  were  behind 
ns  were  thatched  with  straw,  and  those  of  Tuitlii  were  covered  with 
reeds,  in  manner  of  tiles.  Those  houses  are  very  cleanly.  Some  ot 
them  had  walls  daubed  with  clay,  which  showed  like  a  mud-wall.  In 
all  the  cold  country  the  Indians  have  every  one  a  house  for  the  win- 
ter daubed  with  clay  within  and  without,  and  the  door  is  very  little ;  thoy 
shut  it  by  night,  and  make  fire  within ;  so  that  they  are  in  it  as  warm 
as  in  a  stove,  and  so  it  continueth  all  night  that  thoy  need  not  clothes; 
and  besides  these  they  have  others  for  summer;  and  thoir  kitchens 
near  them,  where  thoy  make  fire  and  bake  thoir  broad;  and  thoy  have 
barbacoas  wherein  they  keep  their  maize  ;  which  is  a  house  sot  up 
in  the  air  upon  four  stakes,  boarded  about  like  a  chamber,  and  the 
floor  of  it  is  of  cane  hurdles.  The  ditteronce  which  lords  or  principal 
men's  houses  have  from  the  rest,  besides  thoy  bo  greater,  i*,  that 
thoy  have  great  galleries  in  their  fronts,  and  under  tliom  seats  made 
of  canos  in  manner  of  benches;  and  round  about  thom  thoy  have 
many  lofts,  wherein  thoy  lay  up  that  which  the  Indians  do  give  them 
for  tribute,  which  is  maize,  doors'  skins,  and  mantles  of  the  country, 
which  are  like  blankets;  they  make  them  of  the  imier  rind  of  the  barks 
of  trees,  and  some  of  a  kind  of  grass  like  unto  nettles,  which  being 


I 


138 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


bcatea,  is  like  unto  flax.  The  women  cover  themselves  with  these 
mantles ;  they  put  one  about  them  from  the  waist  downward,  and 
another  over  their  shoulder,  with  their  right  arm  out,  like  unto  the 
Egyptians.  The  men  wear  but  one  mantle  upon  their  shoulders  after 
the  same  manifcr ;  and  have  their  secrets  hid  with  a  deer's  skin,  made 
like  a  linen  breech,  which  was  wont  to  be  used  in  S2)(ini.  The  skins 
are  well  curried,  and  they  give  them  what  color  they  list,  so  perfect, 
that  if  it  bo  red,  it  seemeth  a  very  fine  cloth  in  grain,  and  the  black 
is  most  line,  aiid  of  the  same  leather  they  make  shoes ;  and  they  dye 
their  mantles  in  the  same  colors.  The  Governor  departed  from  ToulU 
the  24th  of  JIarch  ;  he  came  on  Thursday  at  evening  to  a  small 
river,  where  a  bridge  was  made  whereon  the  people  passed,  and  Beiu't 
FcniiUKh:-:,  a  Portuguese,  fell  off  from  it,  and  was  drowned.  As  soon 
as  the  Governor  had  passed  the  river,  a  little  distance  thence  he  found 
a  town  called  Achese.  The  Indians  had  no  notice  of  the  Christians  : 
they  leaped  into  a  river:  some  men  and  women  were  taken,  among 
which  was  one  that  understood  the  youth  which  guided  the  Governor 
to  Yiipahd  ;  whereby  that  which  he  had  reported  was  more  confirmed. 
For  they  had  passed  through  countries  of  divers  languages,  and  some 
which  he  understood  not.  The  Governor  sent  by  one  of  the  Indians 
that  were  taken  to  call  the  cacique,  which  was  on  the  other  side  of 
the  river.     He  came,  and  made  this  speech  following : 

*'  Ilight  high,  right  mighty,  and  excellent  lord,  those  things  which 
seldom  happen  do  cause  admiration.  What  then  U)ay  the  sight  of 
your  lordship  and  your  people  do  to  me  and  mine,  whom  we  never 
saw?  especially  being  mounted  on  such  fierce  beasts  as  your  horses 
are,  entering  with  such  violence  and  fury  into  my  country,  without 
my  knowledge  of  your  coming.  It  was  a  thing  so  strange,  and  caused 
euch  fear  and  terror  in  our  minds,  that  it  was  not  in  our  power  to 
stay  and  receive  your  lordship  with  the  solemnity  due  to  so  high  and 
renowned  a  prince  as  your  lordship  is.  And  trusting  in  your  great- 
ness and  singular  virtues,  I  do  not  only  hope  to  be  freed  from  blame, 
but  also  to  receive  fiivors ;  and  the  first  which  I  demand  of  your  lord- 
ship is,  that  you  will  use  me,  my  country,  and  subjects  as  your  own ; 
and  the  second,  that  j'ou  will  tell  me  who  you  are,  and  whence  you 
come,  and  whither  you  go,  and  what  you  seek,  that  I  the  better  may 
serve  you  therein." 

The  Governor  answered  him,  that  he  thanked  him  as  much  for  his 
offer  and  good-will  as  if  he  had  received  it,  and  as  if  he  had  offered 
him  a  great  treasure ;  and  told  him  that  he  was  the  son  of  the  Sun, 
ami  came  from  those  parts  where  he  dwelt,  and  traveled  through  that 


j 


EXPEDITION  OF  HERNANDO  DE  SOTO. 


189 


country,  and  souirht  the  greatest  lord  and  richest  province  tliat  was  in 
it.  The  cacique  told  him  that  farther  forward  dwelt  a  great  lord,  and 
that  his  dominion  was  called  Ocntr,  lie  gave  him  a  guide  and  an 
interpreter  for  that  province.  The  Governor  commanded  his  Indians 
to  bo  set  free,  and  traveled  through  his  country  up  a  river  very  well 
inhabited.  lie  departed  from  his  town  the  first  of  April ;  and  left  a 
very  high  cross  of  wood  set  up  in  the  midst  of  the  market-place; 
and  l)ocause  the  time  gave  no  more  leisure,  he  declared  to  him  only 
that  that  cross  was  a  memory  of  the  same  whereon  Christ,  whiih  was 
God  and  man,  and  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  suffered  for  our 
salvation ;  therefore  he  exhorted  them  that  they  should  reverence  it, 
and  they  made  show  as  though  they  would  do  so.  The  fourth  of  April 
the  Governor  passed  by  a  town  called  Alfamnca,  and  the  tenth  of  the 
month  he  came  to  Ociitc.  The  cacique  sent  him  two  thousand  Indians 
with  a  present,  to  wit,  many  conies  and  partridges,  bread  of  maize, 
two  hens,  and  many  dogs;  which  among  the  (.'hristians  were  esteemed 
as  if  they  had  been  fat  wethers,  because  of  the  great  want  of  flesh 
meat  and  salt,  and  hereof  in  many  places,  and  many  times  was  great 
need;  and  they  were  so  scarce,  that  if  a  man  fell  sick,  there  was 
nothing  to  cherish  him  withal ;  and  with  a  sickness,  that  in  another 
place  easily  might  have  been  remedied,  he  consumed  away  till  nothing 
but  skin  and  bones  were  left ;  and  they  died  of  pure  weakness,  some 
of  them  saying,  "  If  I  had  a  slice  of  meat  or  a  few  corns  of  salt,  I 
should  not  die.  The  Indians  want  no  flesh  meat;  for  they  kill  with 
their  arrows  many  deer,  hens,  conies,  and  other  wild  fowl,  for  they 
are  very  cunning  at  it,  which  skill  the  Christians  had  not ;  and 
though  they  had  it,  they  had  no  leisure  to  use  it ;  for  the  most  of  the 
time  they  spent  in  travel,  and  durst  not  presume  to  straggle  aside. 
And  because  they  were  thus  scanted  of  flesh,  when  six  hundred  men 
that  went  with  Svfo  came  to  any  town,  and  found  thirty  or  forty 
dogs,  he  that  could  get  one  and  kill  it  thought  himself  no  small  man ; 
and  he  that  killed  it  and  gave  not  his  captain  one  quarter,  if  he  knew 
it  he  frowned  on  him,  and  made  him  feel  it  in  the  watches,  or  in  any 
other  matter  of  labor  that  was  off"ered,  wherein  he  might  do  him  a 
displeasure.  On  Monday,  the  twelfth  of  April,  1540,  the  Governor  de- 
parted from  Ocutc.  The  cacique  gave  him  two  hundred  Tummta,  to 
wit,  Indians  to  carry  burdens ;  he  passed  through  a  town,  the  lord 
whereof  was  named  Co/aqui,  and  came  to  a  province  of  an  Indian 
lord  called  Patofa,  who  because  he  was  in  peace  with  the  lord  of 
Ocutc,  and  with  the  other  bordering  lords,  had  many  days  before 
notice  of  the  Governor,  and  desired  to  see  him.  He  came  to  visit 
him,  and  made  this  speech  following. 


i 


'•ill 
i 


i.i! 


m 


<r^ 


i' 


n 


140 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


if 


"  ^liffhty  loril,  now  with  good  rcnson  I  will  crave  of  fortune  to  re- 
quite this  my  so  great  prosperity  with  some  small  adversity ;  and  I  will 
count  myself  very  rieli,  seeing  that  I  have  obtained  that  which  in  this 
world  I  most  desired,  which  is  to  see  and  be  able  to  do  your  lordship 
some  service.  And  although  the  tongue  be  the  image  of  that  which 
is  in  the  heart,  and  that  the  contentment  which  I  feel  in  my  heart  I 
cannot  dissemble,  yet  is  it  not  sufficient  wholly  to  manifest  the 
same.  Where  did  this  your  country,  which  I  do  govern,  deserve  to 
be  visited  of  so  sovereign  and  so  excellent  a  prince,  whom  all  the  rest 
of  the  world  ought  to  obey  and  serve  ?  And  those  which  inhabit  it 
being  so  base,  what  shall  be  the  issue  of  such  happiness,  if  their 
memory  do  not  represent  unto  them  some  adversity  that  may  betide 
them,  according  to  the  order  of  fortune  ?  If  from  this  day  forward 
wo  may  be  capable  of  this  benefit,  that  your  lordship  will  hold  us  for 
your  own,  we  cannot  fail  to  be  favored  and  maintained  in  true  justice 
and  reason,  and  to  have  the  name  of  men.  For  such  as  are  void  of 
reason  and  justice,  may  be  compared  to  brute  beasts.  For  mine  own 
part,  from  my  very  heart  with  rovercnc-c  due  to  such  a  prince,  I  oifer 
myself  unto  your  lordship,  and  beseech  you,  that  in  r(!ward  of  this 
my  true  good  will,  you  will  vouchsafe  to  make  use  of  mine  own  per- 
son, my  country,  and  subjects." 

The  Governor  answered  him,  that  his  offers  and  good-will  declared 
by  the  effect,  did  highly  please  him,  whereof  he  would  always  be 
mindful  to  honor  and  favor  him  as  his  brother.  This  country,  from 
the  first  peaceable  cacique,  unto  the  province  of  Pato/a,  which  were 
fifty  leagues,  is  a  fat  country,  beautiful,  and  very  fruitful,  and  very 
well "  watereil,  ami  full  of  good  rivers.  And  from  thence  to  the  Port 
lie  Sj)iri(o  Santo,  where  we  first  arrived  in  the  land  of  Florida  (which 
may  be  three  hundred  and  fifty  leagues,  little  more  or  less),  is  a  bar- 
ren land,  and  the  most  of  it  groves  of  wild  pine  trees,  low  and  full  of 
lakes,  and  in  some  places  very  high  and  thick  groves,  whither  the  In- 
dians that  were  in  arms  fled,  so  that  no  man  could  find  them,  neither 
could  any  horses  enter  into  them,  which  was  an  inconvenience  to  the 
Christians,  in  regard  of  the  victuals  which  they  found  conveyed  away ; 
and  of  the  troubles  which  they  had  in  seeking  of  Indians  to  be  their 
guides. 

In  the  town  of  Patofa  the  youth  which  the  Governor  carried  with 
hiiu  for  an  interpreter  and  a  guide,  began  to  foam  at  the  mouth,  and 
tumble  on  the  ground,  as  one  possessed  with  the  devil :  they  said  a 
gospel  over  him,  and  the  fit  left  him.  And  he  said,  that  four  days' 
journey  from  thence  toward  the  sun  rising,  was  the  province  that  he 


EXPEDITION  OF  nERNANDO  DE  SOTO. 


141 


ill 


3r 


d 


spoke  of.     Tlio  Indians  of  l\iti>fa  said,  that  toward  tliat  part  thoy 
knew  no  habitation  ;  but  that   toward  tlie  north-west,  they  knew  u 
provinee  whieh  was  called  Cora,  a  very  plentiful  country,  which  had 
very  great  towns  in  it.    The  caeifjuc  told  the  Governor  that  if  he  would 
go  thither,  he  would  give  him  guides  and  Indians  for  burdens;  and  if 
he  would  go  whither  the  youth  spake  of,  that  he  would  likewise  give 
him  those  that  he  needed ;  and  so  with  loving  words  and  offers  of  cour- 
tesy, thoy  took  their  leaves  the  one  of  the  other,    lie  gave  him  seven 
hundred  Indians  to  bear  burdens.    lie  took  maize  for  four  days'  jour- 
ney.    He  traveled  six  days  by  a  path  which  grew  narrow  more  and 
more,  till  it  was  lost  altogether,     lie  went  where  the  youth  did  lead 
him,  and  passed  two  rivers,  which  were  waded :  eoch  of  them  was  two 
crossbow  shots  over ;  the  water  came  to  the  stirrups,  and  had  so  great 
a  current,  that  it  was  needful  for  the  horsemen  to  stand  one  before 
another,  that  the  footii.en  might  pass  above  them,  leaning  unto  tbeni. 
He  c;inie  to  another  river  of  a  great  current  and  largeness,  which  was 
passed  with  more  trouble,  because  the  horses  did  swim  at  the  coming 
out,  about  a  lance's  length.     Having  passed  this  river,  the  Governor 
came  to  a  grove  of  pine  trees,  and  threatened  the  youth,  and  made 
as  though  he  would  have  cast  him  to  the  dogs,  because  he  had  told 
him  a  lie,  saying,  it  was  but  four  days'  journey,  and  they  had  traveled 
nine,  and  every  day  seven  or  eight  leagues,  and  the  men  by  this  time 
were  grown  weary  and  weak,  and  the  horses  lean  through  the  great 
scanting  of  the  maize.     The  youth  said  that  he  knew  not  where  he 
was.     It  saved  him  thiit  he  was  not  cast  to  the  dogs,  that  there  was 
never  another  whom  Jo/jh  Ortiz  did  understand.    The  Governor,  with 
them  two,  and  with  some  hor.semen  and  footmen,  leaving  the  camp  in 
a  grove  of  pine  trees,  traveled  that  day  five  or  six  leagues  to  seek  a 
waj',  and  returned  at  night  very  conifortless,  and  without  finding  anj' 
sign  of  way  or  town.     The  next  day  there  were  sundry  opinions  de- 
livered, whether  they  should  go  back,  or  what  they  should  do ;  and 
becau.se  backward  the  country  whereby  they  had  passed  was  greatly 
spoiled,  and  destitute   of  maize,  and  that  which   thoy  brought  with 
them  was  spent,  and  the  men  were  very  weak,  and  the  horses  likewise, 
they  doubted  much  whether  they  might  come  to  any  place  where  they 
might  help  themselves.     And  besides  this,  they  wore  of  opinion,  that 
going  in  that  sort  out  of  order,  that  any  Indians  would  presume  to  set 
upon  them,  so  that  with  hunger  or  with  war,  they  could  not  escape. 
The  Governor  determined  to  send  horsemen  from  thence  everyway  to 
seek  habitation ;  and  the  next  day  ho  sent  four  captains,  every  one  a 
sundry  way  with  eight  horsemen.    At  night  they  came  again,  leading 


iii;, 


I 


1,'  < 


1-^1  ; 


! 


0 


14*2 


uisminfAi,  coM.Kt'rioNs  ok  i.oiisiana. 


1 


■n 


': 


llii'ir  l\iM-  ,'s,  (If  (liiving  )lii>ni  willi  ii  slicK  lu'l'iui' ;  I'ur  iIk  y  wi-rc  \vr;\rv, 
dial  llii'v  tuuld  lint  Icjiil  tlu'iii,  ticillicr  riniinl  liny  fitiy  way  or  ^i;ii  ul' 
lialiilaliiiii.  Tlio  ucxl  day  llu«  ( iKVcninr  mimiI  olln  r  lour  willi  mm  many 
liiusciui'ii  llial  ciuild  ^wiin.  to  pass  llic  swamps  and  rivers  wliifli  llicy 
.slinuld  lind.  and  (licy  luid  I'lmin'  Intrscs,  llic  lusl  llial  wt'rc  in  llic 
oan>j>.  'riio  captains  wore  Uti/fiisiir  lA  d'n/',./'  s,  wliicli  went  up  tlic 
river;  and  •/<'/)"  /'(DiaMo  down  llic  rivi>r;  .l//i'/(No  h'niiiii  and  JkIiii 
ICihirii/iii-.  /,<//>///i>  went  into  llu<  inward  parts  of  tlic  laml.  'I'lio  (io- 
vcrnor  brouclil  with  him  into  Flm-lihi  lliirlccn  sows,  ami  liad  liy  this 
(imc  three  hiindi'i'd  swino.  Il(<  eommanded  every  man  should  have 
halt'  a  ]'ound  t>l  hott's  llesh  every  day,  and  this  he  did  three  or  I'onr 
days  alter  the  niai/e  was  all  spent.  \\  ilh  this  small  tpiantily  ol  llesh, 
nnd  some  sodden  herhs,  with  nuieh  Ironhle  the  people  were  siislained. 
The  (iovernor  dismissed  the  Indians  of  /'(^i/c/,  heeaiise  he  had  no 
food  l<>  t'.ivi'  them;  who  tlesirin;:;  to  aeeompany  and  serve  th(>  Cliris- 
liaus  ill  llu'ir  necessity,  maKiiiij;  show  that  it  mievetl  them  very  much 
fi»  relurii  until  they  had  Icl'l  llicm  in  a  peojiled  eounlry,  relumed  to 
their  own  home.  .A  .'m/  P<niiis,i>  came  on  Sunday  lale  in  the  cMiiiiiLT, 
and  I'liuiirhl  iu>ws  that  he  had  loiind  a  little  town  twelve  or  Ihirleeu 
loajiucs  I'rom  iIkmicc  :  he  hronght  a  woman  .and  a  hov  that  he  look  lliere. 
\\  nil  his  com  in  ^  and  with  those  news,  the  (io\  tM'iiora  ud  all  the  rest  were 
so  gl;.d  that  they  secnicil  at  that  instant  to  have  returned  iVom  dealli  to 
lite.  I'pon  Monday,  tht'  twenly-sixlli  ol'  April,  the  (iovernor  departed 
(o  ixo  to  the  town,  which  was  called  Ai/iiiiti/ ;  and  th<>  ("hrislians  named 
it  the  li>wn  ol"  AW/./",  lie  l(>t'l  where  the  camp  li.id  l.iin  at  lln"  foot 
ol'  a  pine  tree,  a  letter  Inuicd.  and  letters  t'arved  in  the  hark  ol"  the 
pine,  the  ciMitcnts  wlien>ot"was  (his:  Uig  lieri>  at  the  foot  ol"  this  pine, 
and  you  shall  lind  ;i  Idler.  And  this  he  did,  liecans(>  when  the  cap- 
tains came,  which  were  setU  io  seek  some  habitation,  they  mi_u;lit 
!«co  (he  lett(M-.  and  know  what  was  become  oi'  the  (iovernor,  and 
which  way  he  was  jx^^nc.  There  was  no  other  way  to  lhi>  town,  bnt 
the  marks  that  ./ulin  lKiiiufr<^  Ictl  made  npim  the  trees.  The  (iovernor, 
with  some  of  thorn  that  had  the  best  Ikh'scs,  canu>  to  it  on  the  Mon- 
dav;  and  all  the  rest  intorcinix  themselves  the  best  way  they  could, 
.some  ot'  them  lodged  within  two  leaii'uos  ol"  the  town,  some  within 
three  and  lour,  every  one  as  ho  was  able  to  go.  and  his  strength  served 
him.  There  was  found  in  the  town  a  store-house  fidl  of  the  Hour 
o(  paivlud  uiai/e ;  and  some  maize,  which  was  distributed  by  allow- 
ance. Here  were  fonr  Indians  taken,  and  none  of  them  witnld  con- 
Icjis  any  other  thing,  but  that  they  knew  of  none  other  habitation. 
The  Governor  commaudod  one  of  thcni  to  bo  burned,  and  presently 


I 


r,\i'i:iii  riuN  nv  in.itNANiKt  r>K,  hoih. 


IT! 


H 


'1, 

[in 
L\ 
\\\r 

w>\- 
\n- 

\n. 

h 


ntliillirr  cnlircH-.cil  IIimI  )  Mn  <I;ivh'  jfimiK'V  1111111  llirliri',  tlli'H  hum  h 
)il'nvilirr  l|i:i|  \v;ih  ciiHciI  ( 'iifi/'iK/ili/iii.  I'lHiti  \\  rdiirMilny  ciiliii'  llir 
(■II|llMillS    /lil/tllHiir    ill      (I'llf/ii/iiH,     AI/nllKii     ICnnlit,   IIIhI     .lull II     lyiiih  iiftlv:^ 

l.iihillii,  I'or  iIh'v  IiimI  riiiiinl  tlic  IrMcr,  .'iiiil  rullmvid  llirway  wliiili  (In- 
<  jDVcriiiir  IiihI  takiMi  IkwiiiiI  iIk"  Ihwii.  Two  rncii  ul. /'</»;/  limit  iijin.'  h 
rimi|i;iiiy  wi'ii'  Iuh),  lirraiiHi'  llicir  ImrHrH  tirnl  ;  iIm-  ( Juvfiiinr  cliii  kcd 
liitii  vn  V  miri'  I'fir  Iniviii;.'  llicin  lirliiinl,  iirnl   m'lil,   In  nick    lliini  ;   nrnl 

IH  Himll   JIH   lIll'V   CMIIir  \\y'  lll|l!irl('(|     luWIiril     ('lllifilllllijlll.        In     llir    vvfiy 

lliri'c  ImliiiiiH  \vt'i<'  l.'ikcii,  wliicli  sjiiil  (liiil.  tin-  Imly  nl'  llinl,  <(iiMitry 
liiiil  iidlicc  !ilir;ii|y  of  llir  ( 'lirisli.'iiiH,  iiihI  nljiycd  I'nr  lliciii  in  ;i  lovvti 
ol'  ln'is.  Tlie  (JiivciiMir  Hiiil  liy  <mc  <•!'  iIh'iii  Iu  (dl'ir  lur  liis  liiiiiil 
uliip,  mill  III  iiilvi'iliMc  lirr  Imw  Im  wiih  coriiin;.';  lliilluT.  Tlic  <iiiviriiiir 
ciuiic  it;ili>  llii>  liivvii,  tuiil  |ii'i'Mrtilly  llicni  ('.iiih'  I'liiir  c'liific.H  In  Iniii;  in 
(iiii<  III'  llii'iii  ciiiiio  a  nislri'  nl  llic  Imly,  Mini  ii|i|iriiii(;liiii^  Id  I.Iic  (in- 
vriiinr  h\w  Miiiil  llirsr  woi'iIh  : 

"  I'lxrrllriil  Innl,  my  hislrr  Hrmli'tli  i;nli(  ymi  l»y  iiii'  lo  kl  ^  your 
|i)rilslii|i's  li.'iiiils,  iiml  In  Hi;/iiit'y  iiiilu  ymi  lli.il  llic  imiimi;  why  hIh'  iiitiii! 
lint  ill  jiiTHiiii,  is,  lliiil,  hIh'  lliiiikrtli  In  (In  ynii  ^'ii'.'il.r  Hrrvici!  st;iyiii^<; 
licliiiiil,  :is  sill'  tlntli,  f-'iviii;^  nnlrr  tli;il,  wil.li  nil  s|m'I'i|  all  licr  i:i,iiiii!H 
111"  ri'inly,  lliiil,  yniir  Inrilsliiii  iiuiy  |i;i>s  tin-  I'ivcr,  ;iii<l  l;ik(;  yniir  icmI, 
wliicli  sliall  |irrsi'iilly  lii;  |i('rrnriiiii|." 

Tim  (invfriinr  j^avo  lirr  lliaiiks,  ami  slic  irliiriinl  In  I,Im;  nllii  r  siilc 
nl'  llid  rivrr.  Witliiii  a  lillli-  wliiii'  lln-  lady  f <!iilira(dii(|ui;  camr  nut 
nf  llii>  Inwn  in  :i  cliair,  wIiiti'ihi  ccrlaiii  nl'  tin;  jii'iiiri|ia.l  Indians 
liriiii;j;lil  lirr  In  llic  rivrr.  Slir  cnlcrrd  inin  a,  liar/_'i'  wliii'li  liad  tlic 
slcrn  lilli'il  nvcr,  and  nil  I  In*  llnnr  lirr  nial.  nady  laid  willi  twiMaiMliinns 
u|iiin  it.  niM<  upnii  iinnlJicr,  wln^rr  him  Mat,  lur  dnwn  ;  and  wilii  licr 
canm  licr  |iriii('i|ial  Indians  in  nllicr  Jiar/^cH,  wliicli  did  wait,  iijinn  licr. 
SIu!  w»!Ht  111  \\w.  placM!  wlKiro  llu;  (invcrnnr  was,  anil  at,  licr  cnmin;.^  sin; 
iiiailt'  lliis  HjitM'cli  i'lillnwin;^  : 

"  Mxcclli'iil  Inrd,  I  wish  tliis  cnmin;.:;  nl'  yniir  Innlsliip  into  IIkihc; 
ynur  cniinlrii's  to  \sv.  niost,  liappy  ;  alllioiii.di  niy  power  In;  not  an-wcr- 
alili^  In  my  will,  and  my  services  In;  not,  according  to  niy  d'sirc,  nor 
sucii  as  so  lii^di  ;i  prince  as  your  Innlsliip  dcscrvotli  ;  yet,  sirin-  tin; 
gnnil-will  is  rather  to  ho  a(M'e|)te(l  than  all  the  treasures  nf  the  world, 
that,  without,  it,  an;  nll'ered  with  iruist,  unfailahle  and  iriatiif'est,  afleclion, 


I  oil'. 


cr  villi  m 


} 


y  1 


lorson 


latids 


aml 


Mill 


■cl 


s,  am 


I  tl 


lis  siiiall  service 


And  therewithal  she  presontitd  unto  him  groat  store  nf  clothes  nf 
the  country,  which  sin;  brought  in  other  canoes,  to  wif,  maul  I'-  and 
skins;  and  took  from  her  own  nock  :i  great  cordon  of  pearls,  and  cast 
it  about  the  neck  of  tlio  (jlovernor,  entertaining  him  with  very  gracious 


I 


tf 


0   ' 


144 


IIISTURICAL  COLl.KCTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


spoeclit's  of  love  ami  cuurtcsy,  and  coimnantU'cl  eaiiocs  to  lio  Itmujrlit 
tliillicr,  wherein  the  (idvcruor  and  his  ju-ople  jiaswd  the  river.  As 
M)OU  us  ho  was  lodged  iit  tlie  town,  she  ((jutitaehii|ui)  sent  him  ano- 
ther jiresent  of  uiany  hens.  This  country  was  very  pleasant,  fat,  and 
huth  goodly  meadows  by  the  rivers.  Their  woods  are  thin,  and  full 
of  walnut  trees  and  mulbc^rry  trees.  They  .said  the  sea  was  two  days' 
journey  from  thence.  Within  a  league  an<l  half  a  league  about  this 
town  were  great  towns  disj)c'(tiiled,  and  overgrown  with  grass;  which 
showed  that  they  had  been  long  without  inhabitants.  The  Indians 
said  that  two  years  before  there  was  a  plague  in  that  country,  and  that 
they  ri'nioved  to  other  towns.  There  was  in  their  storehouses  great 
quantity  of  clothes,  mantles  of  yarn  made  of  the  barks  of  trees,  and 
others  made  of  feathers,  white,  green,  red,  and  yellow,  very  line  after 
their  use,  and  profitable  for  winter.  There  were  also  many  deer's 
skins,  with  many  compartments  traced  in  them,  and  some  of  them 
made  into  hose,  stockings,  and  shoes.  And  the  lady  perceiving  that 
the  Christians  esteemed  the  pearls,  advised  the  (Jovernor  to  send  to 
search  certain  graves  that  were  in  that  town,  and  that  he  should  find 
many;  and  that  if  he  would  send  to  the  dispeopled  towns  he  might  load 
all  liis  horses.  They  sought  the  graves  of  that  town,  and  there  found 
fourteen  rows  of  pearls  (three  hundred  and  ninety-two  jiouuds),  and  little 
babies  and  birds  made  of  tliem.  The  people  were  brown,  well  made, 
and  well  proportioned,  and  more  civil  than  any  others  that  were  seen 
in  all  the  country  of  Flnrhhi,  and  all  of  them  went  shod  and  clothed. 
The  youth  told  the  Governor  that  he  begau  now  to  enter  into  the 
land  which  he  spoke  of;  and  some  credit  was  given  him  that  it  was 
so,  becau.'^e  he  understood  the  language  of  the  Indians ;  and  he  re- 
quested that  he  might  be  christened,  for  ho  said  he  desired  to  be- 
come a  Christian.  He  was  christened,  and  named  I'lirr ;  and  the 
Governor  commanded  him  to  be  loosed  from  a  chain,  in  which  until 
that  time  he  had  gone.  This  country,  as  the  Indians  reported,  had 
been  much  inhabited,  and  had  the  fame  of  a  good  country.  And  as 
it  seonieth,  the  youth,  which  was  the  Governor's  guide,  had  heard  of 
it,  and  that  which  he  knew  by  hearsay,  he  allirmed  that  he  had  seen, 
and  augmented  at  his  pleasure.  In  this  town  was  found  a  dagger, 
and  beads  that  belonged  to  Christians.  The  Indians  reported  that 
Christians  had  been  in  the  haven  (St.  Helena),  which  was  two  days' 
journi'y  from  this  town,  many  years  ago.  He  that  came  thither  was 
the  Governor,  the  Liaiitiale  Lucas  VaHijuc;:  de  AijUon,  which  went  to 
con(pier  this  country,  and  at  his  coming  to  the  port  he  died  (1525); 


K.XI'KDITION  OF  HERNANDO  DE  SOTO. 


145 


and  tlure  wiH  :i  division,  rpmrrels  and  slauglitor.s  Itctwocn  sonio  i>riii- 
cipal  nun  wliich  wont  with  him,  for  tho  principal  govornniont.  And 
\rith()ut  knowing  anything  of  the  conntry,  they  rotnrnod  horao  to  ///s- 
paniolit.  All  tho  company  thought  it  good  to  inhabit  that  country, 
bocauHo  it  was  in  a  tomperato  climate  (}>'1°  IJO').  And  that  if  it  were 
inhaltitcil,  all  the  ships  of  New  Spain,  of  J'rii,  Sanfa  Marf/ia,  and 
T(  rra  Firiiia,  in  their  return  for  Sjiaiii  might  well  touch  there,  because 
it  was  in  their  way,  and  bt^cause  it  was  a  good  country,  and  sited  tit 
to  raise  coiumodity.  The  (iovcrnor,  since  his  intent  was  to  seek  aiio- 
ther  treasure,  like  that  of  AfnlniUjxi,  Lord  of  7' r«,  was  not  conti'iitcd 
with  a  good  country,  nor  with  pearls,  though  many  of  them  were 
worth  their  weight  in  gold.  And  if  the  country  lia<l  been  divided 
among  the  (!iiristians,  those  which  the  Indians  had  lislied  for  after- 
wards would  have  been  of  more  value;  for  those  which  they  hatl,  be- 
cause they  burned  them  in  the  fire,  did  lessen  their  color.  The  t  io- 
vcrnor answered  them  that  urged  him  to  iidiabit,  that  iu  all  the  coun- 
try there  were  not  victuals  to  sustain  his  men  one  month  ;  and  that 
it  was  needful  to  resort  to  the  I'ort  of  Ocas,  where  MidihuKitlo  was 
to  stay  for  them :  and  that  if  no  richer  country  were  found,  they 
might  return  again  to  that  whensoever  they  would ;  and  in  the  mean- 
time the  Indians  would  sow  their  fields,  and  it  would  be  better  fur- 
nished with  maize,  lie  inquired  of  the  Indians  whether  th(!y  had 
notice  of  any  great  lord  farther  into  the  land.  They  told  him  that 
twelve  days'  journey  from  thence'"  there  was  a  province  called  C7t/(f/»«, 
subject  to  the  Lord  of  Coi^a.  Presently  tho  (^Iovcrnor  determined  to 
sock  that  land.  And  being  a  stern  man,  and  of  few  words,  though 
he  was  glad  to  sift  and  know  the  opinion  of  all  men,  yet  after  he  had 
delivered  his  own,  he  would  not  be  contraricd,  and  always  did  wiiat 
liked  himself,  and  so  all  men  did  condescend  unto  his  will.  And 
thougii  it  seemed  an  error  to  leave  that  country  (for  others  might 
have  been  sought  round  about,  where  the  people  might  have  been 
sustained  until  the  luirvest  had  been  ready  there,  and  the  maize 
gatlierod),  yet  there  was  none  that  would  say  anything  against  him, 
after  they  knew  his  resolution. 

The  (lovernor  departed  from  CiitifarlLupd  the  third  day  of  ^lay. 
And  IiecauHC  the  Indians  had  revolted,  and  tho  will  of  the  lady  was 
perceived,  that  if  she  could,  she  would  depart  without  giving  any 
guides  or  men  for  burden,  for  the  wrongs  which  the  Christians  had 
done  to  the  Indians  (for  there  never  want  some  among  niany  of  a 


i- 


'! 


Twelve  days  from  St.  Helena,  ami  Coste  seven  days'  journey  from  Cliialia. 
11 


«f  * 


140 


IflSTOUICAL  rOLLKCTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


bnso  port,  that  for  alittlo  gain  do  put  themselves  and  others  in  danger 
of  undoing),  tho  (Jovornor  emninanded  her  to  bo  kept  in  safeguartl, 
and  carried  with  him,  not  with  so  good  usage  as  she  deserved  for  tho 
good-will  she  showed,  and  good  entertainment  that  she  had  made  him. 
And  ho  verified  that  old  proverb  which  suith:  "  For  well-doing  1  re- 
ceive evil."  And  so  ho  carried  her  on  foot  with  his  bondwomen  to 
look  unto  her.  In  all  tho  towns  where  tho  Governor  passed,  the  lady 
commanded  the  Indians  to  come  and  carry  the  burdens  from  one  town 
to  another.  We  passed  through  her  country  an  hundred  leagues,  in 
which,  as  wo  saw,  she  was  much  obeyed,  for  tho  Indians  did  all  that  she 
commanded  them  with  great  efficacy  and  diligence.  Peter,  the  youth 
that  was  our  guide,  said  that  she  was  not  tho  lady  herself,  but  a  niece 
of  hers,  which  came  to  that  town  to  execute  certain  principal  men  by 
commandment  of  tho  lady,  which  had  withheld  her  tribute ;  which 
words  were  not  believed,  because  of  the  lies  which  they  had  found  in 
him  before  j  but  they  bare  with  all  things  because  of  tho  need  which 
they  had  of  him  to  declare  what  tho  Indians  said.  In  seven  days' 
space  tho  Governor  came  to  a  province  called  OhaIa(ptc,  the  poorest 
country  of  maize  that  was  seen  in  Florida.  The  Indians  feed  upon 
roots  and  herbs,  which  they  seek  in  the  tields,  and  upon  wild  beasts, 
which  they  kill  with  their  bows  and  arrows,  and  arc  a  very  gentle 
people.  All  of  them  go  naked,  and  are  very  lean.  There  was  a 
Lord  (Cutifachiqui),  which  for  a  great  present,  brought  the  Governor 
two  deer  skins;  and  there  were  in  that  country  many  wild  hens.  In  one 
town  they  made  him  a  present  of  seven  hundred  hens,  and  so  in 
other  towns  they  sent  him  those  which  they  had  or  could  get.  From 
this  province  to  another,  which  is  called  Xualla,  he  spent  live  days. 
Here  he  found  very  little  maize,  and  for  this  cause,  though  the  people 
were  wearied,  and  the  horses  very  weak,  he  staid  no  more  but  two 
days.  From  Omtc  to  Cntlfaehtqni,  maybe  some  hundred  and  thirty 
league.s,  whereof  eighty  are  wilderness.  From  Cufi/aehiqui  to  Xualla 
two  hundred  and  fifty,  and  it  is  a  hilly  country.  The  Governor  de- 
parted from  Xualla  towards  Gnaxulc — he  passed  very  rough  and 
high  hills.  In  that  journey,  the  lady  of  Cuti/achiqui  (whom  the 
Governor  carried  with  him,  as  is  aforesaid,  with  purpose  to  carry  her 
to  Guaxulc,  because  her  territory  reached  thither),  going  on  a  day 
with  the  bondwomen  which  led  her,  went  out  of  the  way,  and  entered 
into  a  wood,  saying  she  went  to  ease  herself,  and  so  she  deceived 
them,  and  hid  herself  in  the  woodj  and  though  they  sought  her  they 
could  not  find  her.     She  carried  away  with  her  a  little  chest  made  of 


EXrF.DITION  OF  HERNANDO  DE  SOTO. 


147 


canes  in  inaniior  of  a  coflVr,  whieii  tlu'y  call  potaca,  full  of  unboroil 
pearls.  Some  wliieli  coukl  Juilgc  of  tlioni,  saiil  that  they  were  of 
great  value.  An  Indian  woman  that  waited  on  her  did  earry  tlieni. 
The  (lovernor,  not  to  discontent  her  altogetiier,  h'ft  them  with  her. 
making  aeeount  that  in  duaxuh'  ho  would  ask  them  of  her,  when  he 
g;ive  her  leave  to  return;  which  coffer  she  carried  away  and  went  tn 
XiKiHa  with  three  slaves  which  fled  from  tho  camp,  and  one  horseman 
which  remained  behind,  who,  falling  sick  of  an  ague,  went  out  of  the 
way  and  wa.s  lost.  This  man,  whoso  name  was  Afinianms,  dealt  with 
tho  slaves  to  change  their  evil  purpose,  and  return  with  him  to  the 
Christians,  which  two  of  them  did;  and  A/iiminios  and  they  (>ver- 
took  the  Governor  Hfty  leaf^ucs  from  thence  in  a  province  called 
Chidha;  and  reported  how  tho  lady  remained  in  Xinilln  with  a  slave 
of  Aittfrcw  lie  yitsconccUox,  which  would  not  conic  back  with  them ; 
and  that  of  a  certainty  they  lived  as  man  and  wife  together,  and 
meant  to  go  both  to  Cul!/aihl<ini.  Within  five  days  the  (Joveriior 
came  to  (iuaxule.  The  Indians  there  gave  him  a  present  of  three 
hundred  dogs,  because  they  saw  tho  Christians  esteem  them,  and 
sought  them  to  feed  on  them;  for  among  them  they  are  not  eaten. 
In  (lUttxule,  and  all  that  way,  was  very  little  maize.  The  (lovernor 
sent  from  thcnco  an  Indian  with  a  message  to  tho  cacique  of  Clilnhn, 
to  desire  him  to  gather  some  maizo  thither,  that  ho  might  rest  a  few- 
days  in  Chiaha.  The  Governor  departed  from  6'«a,»«/^',  and  in  two 
days'  journey  camo  to  a  town  called  ('unasiKjun.  There  met  him  on 
the  way  twenty  Indians,  every  one  loaded  with  a  basketful  of  mul- 
berries;  for  there  be  many,  and  those  very  good,  from  Cufi/or/iiijii'' 
thither,  and  .so  forward  in  other  provinces,  and  also  nuts  and  plums. 
And  tho  trees  grow  in  the  fields  without  planting  or  dressing  them, 
and  as  big  and  as  rank  as  though  they  grew  in  gardens  digged  and 
watered.  From  the  time  that  tho  Governor  departed  frouj  ('uutiinKjna. 
ho  journeyed  five  days  through  a  desert;  and  two  leagues  before  he 
came  to  Clilaha,  there  met  him  fifteen  Indians  loaded  with  maizo. 
which  the  cacique  had  scut;  and  they  told  him  on  his  behalf,  that  he 
waited  his  coming  with  twenty  barns  full  of  it;  and  further,  that 
hiuisclf,  his  country,  and  subjects,  and  all  things  (slse  were  at  his  ser- 
vice. On  the  fifth  day  of  June,  the  Governor  entered  into  C/iifi'.rt. 
The  cacique  voided  his  own  houses,  in  Avhich  ho  lodged,  and  received 
him  with  much  joy,  saying  these  words  following : — 

"  Mighty  and  excellent  lord,  I  hold  myself  for  so  happy  a  man,  iu 
that  it  hatli  pleased  your  lordship  to  use  me,  that  nothing  could  have 


1 


^1 


!!i| 


|l!    Ij 


i 


148 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


happened  unto  me  of  more  contentment,  nor  that  I  would  have  es- 
teemed so  much.  From  (Jnaxulc  your  lordship  sent  unto  me,  that  I 
should  prepare  maize  for  you  in  this  town  for  two  months.  Here  I 
have  for  you  twenty  barns  full  of  the  choicest  that  in  all  the  country 
could  be  found.  If  your  lordship  bo  not  entertained  by  me  in  such 
sort  as  is  fit  for  so  high  a  prince,  respect  my  tender  age,  which  ex- 
cuseth  mc  from  blame,  and  receive  my  good-will,  which  with  much 
loyalty,  truth  and  sincerity,  I  will  always  show  in  anything  which 
shall  concern  your  lordship's  service." 

The  Governor  answered  him  that  he  thanked  him  very  much  for  his 
service  and  oifer,  and  that  ho  would  always  account  him  as  his 
brother.  There  was  in  this  town  much  butter  in  gourds  melted  like 
oil — they  said  it  was  the  fat  of  bears.  There  was  found,  also,  great 
store  of  oil  of  walnuts,  which  was  clear  as  butter,  and  of  a  good 
taste,  and  a  pot  full  of  honey  of  bees,  which  neither  before  nor  after- 
ward was  seen  in  all  the  country.  The  town  was  an  island  between 
two  arms  of  a  river,  and  was  seated  nigh  one  of  them.  The  river 
divideth  itself  into  those  two  branches,  two  crossbow  shots  above  the 
town,  and  mccteth  again  a  league  beneath  the  same.  The  plain  be- 
tween both  the  branches  is  sometimes  one  crossbow  shot,  sometimes 
two  crossbow  shots  over.  The  branches  are  very  broad,  and  both  of 
them  may  be  waded  over.  There  were  along  them  very  good  mea- 
dows, and  many  fields  sown  with  maize.  And  because  the  Indians 
staid  in  their  town,  the  Governor  only  lodged  in  the  houses  of  the 
cacique,  and  his  people  in  the  fields ;  where  there  was  ever  a  tree  every 
one  took  one  for  himself.  Thus  the  camp  lay  separated  one  from 
another,  and  out  of  order.  The  Governor  winked  at  it,  because  the 
Indians  were  in  peace,  and  because  it  was  very  hot,  and  the  people 
should  have  suft'ered  great  extremity  if  it  had  not  been  so.  The 
horses  came  thither  so  weak,  that  for  feebleness  they  were  not  able  to 
carry  their  masters;  because  that  from  Cutifachiqui,  they  always 
traveled  with  very  little  provender,  and  were  hunger-starved  and  tired 
ever  since  they  came  from  the  desert  of  Ocutc.  And  because  the 
most  of  them  were  not  in  case  to  use  in  battle,  though  need  should 
require,  they  sent  them  to  feed  in  the  night  a  quarter  of  a  league 
from  the  camp.  The  Christians  were  there  in  great  danger,  because 
that  if  at  this  time  the  Indians  had  sot  upon  them,  they  had  been  in 
evil  case  to  have  defended  themselves.  The  Governor  rested  there 
thirty  days,  in  which  time,  because  the  country  was  very  fruitful,  the 
horses  grew  fat.     At  the  time  of  his  departure,  by  the  importunity  of 


I* 


EXPEDITION  OP  HERNANDO  DE  SOTO. 


149 


some,  which  would  have  more  than  was  reason,  he  demanded  of  the 
cacique  thirty  women  to  make  slaves  of.  He  answered  that  he  would 
confer  with  his  chief  men.  And  before  he  returned  an  answer,  one 
night  all  of  them  with  their  wives  and  children  forsook  the  town,  and 
fled  away.  The  next  day,  the  Governor  proposing  to  go  to  seek 
them,  the  cacique  came  unto  him,  and  at  his  coming  used  these  words 
unto  the  Governor : — 

"  Mighty  lord,  with  shame  and  fear  of  your  lordship,  because  my 
subjects  against  my  will  have  done  amiss  in  absenting  themselves,  I 
went  my  way  without  your  license;  and  knowing  the  error  which  I 
have  committed,  like  a  loyal  subject,  I  come  to  yield  mj-sclf  into  your 
power,  to  dispose  of  me  at  your  own  pleasure.  For  my  subjects  do 
not  obey  me,  nor  do  anything  but  what  an  uncle  of  mine  commandeth, 
which  governeth  this  country  for  me,  until  I  be  of  a  perfect  age.  If 
your  lordship  will  pursue  them,  and  execute  on  tliem  that,  which  for 
their  disobedience  they  deserve,  I  will  be  your  guide,  since  at  this 
present  my  fortune  will  not  suffer  me  to  perform  any  more." 

Presently,  the  Governor  with  thirty  horsemen,  and  as  many  footmen, 
went  to  seek  the  Indians,  and  passing  by  some  towns  of  the  principal 
ladians  which  had  absented  themselves,  he  cut  and  destroyed  great 
fields  of  maize;  and  wont  up  the  river,  where  the  Indians  were  in  an 
island,  where  the  horsemen  could  not  come  at  them.  There  he  sent 
them  word  by  an  Indian  to  return  to  their  town  and  fear  nothing, 
and  that  they  should  give  his  men  to  carry  burdens,  as  all  those 
behind  had  done;  for  be  would  have  no  Indian  women,  seeing  they 
were  so  loth  to  part  with  them.  The  Indians  accepted  his  request, 
and  ca  le  to  the  Governor  to  excuse  themselves;  and  so  all  of  them 
returned  to  their  town.  A  cacique  of  a  province  called  Coste,  came 
to  this  town  to  visit  the  Governor.  After  he  had  offered  himself,  and 
passed  with  him  some  words  of  tendering  his  service  and  courtesy,  the 
Governor  asking  him  whether  he  had  notice  of  any  rich  country  ^  he 
said  yea:  to  wit,  that  toward  the  north  there  was  a  province  named 
Chisca  :*  and  that  there  was  a  melting  of  copper,  and  of  another 
metal  of  the  same  color,  save  that  it  was  finer,  and  of  a  far  more  per- 
fect color,  and  far  better  to  the  sight;  and  that  tlicy  used  it  not  so 
much,  because  it  was  softer.  And  the  self  same  thing  was  told  the 
Governor  in  t'atifavhlqni,  where  we  saw  some  little  hatchets  of  cop- 
per, which  were  said  to  have  a  mixture  of  gold.     But  in  that  part 


III 
ill. 
■•rtji 


.1   -■H  1 

i 


ill 


n 


*  Cliisca  is  directly  north  from  Cutifauhiqui,  wliicli  is  witliiii  two  days  of 
St.  Helena. 


'1! 


150 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


the  country  was  not  well  peopled,  and  they  said  there  were  mountains, 
which  the  horses  could  not  pass :  and  for  that  cause,  the  Govornor 
would  not  go  from  Cuti/arliiqiti  directly  thither:  and  he  made  ac- 
count, that  traveling  through  a  peopled  country,  when  his  men  and 
horses  should  bo  in  better  plight,  and  ho  were  better  certified  of  the 
truth  of  the  thing,  ho  would  return  toward  it,  by  mountains,  and  a 
better  inhabited  country,  whereby  he  might  have  better  passage.  He 
sent  two  Christians  from  Chiaha  with  certain  Indians  which  knew 
the  country  of  Chisca,  and  the  language  thereof,  to  view  it,  and  to 
make  report  of  that  which  they  should  find;  where  he  told  them  that 
he  would  tarry  for  them. 

When  the  Governor  was  determined  to  depart  from  Chiaha  to  Costc, 
lie  sent  for  the  cacique  to  come  before  him,  and  with  gentle  words 
took  his  leave  of  him,  and  gave  him  certain  things,  wherewith  ho 
rested  much  contented.  In  seven  days  he  came  to  Coatc.  The  second 
of  July  he  connnanded  his  camp  to  be  pitched  two  crossbow  shots  from 
the  town :  and  with  eight  men  of  his  guard  he  went  where  he  found 
the  cacique,  which  to  his  thinking  received  him  with  great  love.  As 
he  was  talking  with  him,  there  went  from  the  camp  certain  footmen 
to  the  town  to  seek  some  maize,  and  not  contented  with  it,  they  ran- 
sacked and  searched  the  houses,  and  took  what  they  found.  With 
this  despite,  the  Indians  began  to  rise  and  to  take  their  arms :  and 
some  of  them,  with  cudgels  in  their  hands,  ran  upon  five  or  six  Chris- 
tians, which  had  done  them  wrong,  and  beat  them  at  their  pleasure. 
The  Governor  seeing  them  all  in  an  uproar,  and  himself  among  them 
Avith  so  few  Christians,  to  escape  their  hands  used  a  stratagem,  far 
against  his  own  disposition,  being,  as  ho  was,  very  frank  and  open : 
and  though  it  grieved  him  very  much  that  any  Indian  should  be  so 
bold,  as  with  reason,  or  without  reason  to  despise  the  Christians,  he 
took  up  a  cudgel,  and  took  their  parts  against  his  own  men ;  which 
was  a  means  to  quiet  them.  And  presently  he  sent  word  by  a  man 
very  secretly  to  the  camp,  that  some  armed  men  should  come  toward 
ihe  place  where  he  was;  and  he  took  the  cacique  by  the  hand,  using 
very  mild  words  unto  him,  and  with  some  principal  Indians  that  did 
accompany  him,  he  drew  them  out  of  the  town  into  a  plain  way,  and 
imto  the  sight  of  the  camp,  whither  by  little  and  little  with  good  dis- 
eretion  the  Ciiristians  began  to  come  and  to  gather  about  them.  Thus 
the  Governor  led  the  cacique  and  his  chief  men  until  he  entered  with 
them  into  the  camp:  and  near  unto  his  tent  he  commanded  thoui  to 
be  put  in  safe  custody;  and  told  them  that  they  should  not  depart 


i» 


EXPEDITION  OP  HERNANDO  DE  SOTO. 


151 


without  jriving  him  a  guide  and  Indians  for  burdens;,  and  till  certain 
sick  Christians  were  come,  which  ho  had  commanded  to  come  down 
the  river  in  canoes  from  Chiaha;  and  those  also  which  he  had  sent 
to  the  province  of  Chiscu:  (for  they  were  not  returned;  and  he 
feared  that  the  Indians  had  slain  the  one,  and  the  other.)  Within 
three  days  after,  those  which  were  sent  to  Cliisra  returned,  and  made 
report  that  the  Indians  had  carried  them  through  a  country  so  poor 
of  maize,  and  so  rough,  and  over  so  high  mountains,  that  it  was  im- 
possible for  the  army  to  travel  that  way;  and  that  seeing  the  way 
grew  very  long,  and  that  they  lingered  mucli,  they  consulted  to  return 
from  a  little  poor  town,  where  they  saw  nothing  that  was  of  any  pr  tit, 
and  brought  an  ox  hide,  which  tlie  Indians  gave  them,  as  thin  as  a 
calf's  skin,  and  the  hair  like  a  soft  wool,  between  the  coarse  and  line 
wool  of  sheep.  The  cacique  ga  •  a  glide,  and  men  for  burdens,  and 
departed  with  the  (iovernor's  1  .ve.  The  (lOvcrnor  departed  from 
Cu!(t('  the  ninth  of  July,  and  lodged  at  a  town  called  Tall.  The  ca- 
cique came  forth  to  receive  him  on  the  way,  and  made  this  speech : — 

'<  I'ixcelleut  lord  and  prince,  worthy  to  be  served  and  obeyed  of  all 
the  princes  in  the  world;  howsoever  for  the  most  part  by  the  outward 
physiognomy  the  inward  virtue  may  be  judged,  and  that  who  you 
are,  and  of  what  strength,  was  known  unto  me  before  now  :  I  will  not 
infer  hereupon  how  mean  I  am  in  your  presence,  to  hope  that  my 
poor  services  will  be  grateful  and  acceptable :  since  whereas  strength 
faileth,  the  will  doth  not  cease  to  be  praised  and  accepted.  And  for 
this  cause  I  presume  to  request  your  lordship,  that  you  will  be  pleased 
only  to  respect  the  same,  and  consider  wherein  you  will  command  my 
service  in  this  your  country." 

The  (jovcrnor  answered  him,  that  his  good-will  and  offer  was  as 
acceptable  unto  him  as  if  he  had  oifered  him  ali  the  treasures  of  the 
world,  and  that  he  would  always  entreat,  favor,  and  esteem  him  as  if 
he  were  his  own  brother.  The  cacicjue  commanded  provision  neces- 
sary fur  two  days,  while  the  d overnor  was  there,  to  be  brought  thither: 
and  at  the  time  of  his  departure,  he  gave  him  four  women  and  two 
men,  which  he  had  need  of  to  bear  burdens.  The  (joveraor  traveled 
sis  days  through  many  towns  subject  to  the  cacique  of  Cora:  and  as 
he  entered  into  his  country  many  Indians  came  unto  him  every  day 
from  the  caeicjue,  and  met  him  on  the  way  with  messages,  one  going, 
and  anollier  coming.  He  came  to  Cora  upon  Friday,  the  2(ith  of 
July.  The  caci  (i.e  came  forth  to  receive  him  two  crossbow  shots  from 
the  town  in  a  chair,  Avhicli  his  principal  men  carried  on  their  ahoul- 


lii 


i 

sri'i ! 


if. 


152 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


r 


ders,  sitting  upon  a  cushion,  and  covered  with  a  garment  of  marterns, 
of  the  fashion  and  bigness  of  a  woman's  huke :  he  had  on  his  head  a 
diadem  of  feathers,  and  round  about  him  many  Indians  playing  upon 
flutes,  and  singing.  As  soon  as  he  came  unto  the  Governor,  he  did  his 
obeyance,  and  uttered  these  words  following : — 

"Excellent  and  mighty  lord,  above  all  them  of  the  earth,  al- 
though I  come  but  now  to  receive  you,  yet  I  have  received  you  many 
days  ago  in  my  heart,  to  wit,  from  the  day  wherein  I  had  first  notice 
of  your  lordship:  with  so  great  desire  to  serve  you,  with  so  great 
pleasure  and  contentment,  that  this  which  I  make  show  of,  is  nothing 
in  regard  of  that  which  is  in  my  heart,  neither  can  it  have  any  kind 
of  comparison.  This  you  may  hold  for  certain,  that  to  obtain  the 
dominion  of  the  whole  world,  would  not  have  rejoiced  me  so  much  as 
your  sight,  neither  would  I  have  held  it  for  so  great  a  felicity.  Do 
not  look  for  me  to  offer  you  that  which  is  your  own,  to  wit,  my  per- 
son, my  lands,  and  subjects;  only  I  will  busy  myself  in  commanding 
my  nion  with  all  diligence  and  due  reverence  to  welcome  you  from 
hence  to  the  town  with  playing  and  singing,  where  your  lordship 
shall  be  lodged  and  attended  upon  by  myself  and  them ;  and  all  that 
I  possess  your  lordship  shall  use  as  it  were  your  own.  For  your 
lordship  shall  do  me  a  very  great  favor  in  so  doing." 

The  Governor  gave  him  thanks,  and  with  great  joy  they  both  went' 
conferring  together  till  they  came  to  the  town ;  and  he  commanded  his 
Indians  to  void  their  houses,  wherein  the  Governor  and  his  men  were 
lodged.  There  was  in  the  barns  and  in  the  fields  great  store  of  maize 
and  French  beans.  The  country  was  greatly  inhabited  with  many 
great  towns,  and  many  sown  fields,  which  reached  from  the  one  to  the 
other.  It  was  pleasant,  fat,  full  of  good  meadows  upon  rivers.  There 
were  in  the  fields  many  plum  trees,  as  well  of  such  as  grow  in  tSjmin 
as  of  the  country ;  and  wild  tall  vines,  that  run  up  the  trees ;  and 
besides  these  there  were  other  low  vines  with  big  and  sweet  grapes; 
but  for  want  of  digging  and  dressing,  they  had  great  kernels  in  them. 
The  Governor  used  to  set  a  guard  over  the  caciques,  because  they 
should  not  absent  themselves,  and  carried  them  with  him  till  he  came 
out  of  their  countries ;  because  that  carrying  them  along  with  him, 
he  looked  to  find  people  in  the  towns,  and  they  gave  him  guides,  and 
men  to  carry  burdens;  and  before  he  went  out  of  their  countries,  he 
gave  them  license  to  return  to  their  houses,  and  to  their  porters  like- 
wise, as  soon  as  he  came  to  any  other  lordship  where  they  gave  him 
others.     The  men  of  Co(ja  seeing  their  lord  detained,  took  it  in  evil 


I 


I 


ri  't 


EXPEDITION  OP  HERNANDO  DE  SOTO. 


153 


part,  and  revolted,  and  hid  themselves  in  the  woods,  as  well  those 
of  the  town  of  the  cacique,  as  those  of  the  other  towns  of  his  princi- 
pal subjects.  The  Governor  sent  out  four  captains,  every  one  his  way, 
to  seek  them.  They  took  many  men  and  women,  which  were  put  into 
chains.  They  seeing  the  hurt  which  they  received,  and  how  little 
they  gained  in  absenting  themselves,  came  again,  promising  to  do 
whatsoever  they  were  commanded.  Of  those  which  were  taken 
prisoners,  some  principal  men  were  set  at  liberty,  whom  the  cacique 
demanded ;  and  every  one  that  had  any,  carried  the  rest  in  chains  like 
slaves,  without  letting  them  go  to  their  country.  Neither  did  any  re- 
turn, but  some  few,  whose  fortune  helped  them  with  the  good  dili- 
gence which  they  used  to  file  off  their  chains  by  night,  or  such  as  in 
their  traveling  could  slip  aside  out  of  the  way,  seeing  any  negligence 
in  them  that  kept  them ;  some  escaped  away  with  the  chains,  and 
with  the  burdens  and  clothes  which  they  carried. 

The  Governor  rested  in  Cora  twenty-five  days.  He  departed  from 
thence  the  twentieth  of  August,  to  seek  a  province  called  Tascaluca; 
he  carried  with  him  the  cacique  of  Cor^a.  He  passed  that  day  by  a 
great  town  called  TalUmuchusc ;  the  people  were  fled ;  he  lodged  half 
a  league  further,  near  a  brook.  The  next  day  he  came  to  a  town  called 
Ytaua,  subject  to  Coga.  He  staid  there  six  days,  because  of  a  river 
that  passed  by  it,  which  at  that  time  was  very  high  ;  and  as  soon  as 
the  river  suffered  him  to  pass^  he  set  forward,  and  lodged  at  a  town 
named  VUihaliali.  There  came  to  him  on  the  way,  of  the  caciques  in 
behalf  of  that  province,  ten  or  twelve  principal  Indians  to  offer  him 
their  service  ;  all  of  them  had  their  plumes  of  feathers,  and  bows  and 
arrows.  The  Governor  coming  to  the  town  with  twelve  horsemen, 
and  some  footmen  of  his  guard,  leaving  his  people  a  crossbow  shot 
from  the  town,  entered  into  it ;  he  found  all  the  Indians  with  their 
weapons,  and  as  far  as  he  could  guess,  they  seemed  to  have  some  evil 
meaning.  It  was  known  afterwards  that  they  were  determined  to 
take  the  cacique  of  Cora  from  the  Governor,  if  he  had  requested  it. 
The  Governor  commanded  all  bis  people  to  enter  the  town,  which  was 
walled  about,  and  nesxr  unto  it  passed  a  small  river.  The  wall,  as 
well  of  that  as  of  others,  which  afterwards  wo  saw,  was  of  great  posts 
thrust  deep  into  the  ground,  and  very  rough ;  and  many  long  rails,  as 
big  as  one's  arm,  laid  across  between  them,  and  the  wall  was  about  the 
height  of  a  lance,  and  it  was  daubed  within  and  without  with  clay, 
and  had  loopholes.  On  the  other  side  of  the  river  was  a  town, 
where  at  that  present  the  cacique  was.  The  Governor  sent  to  call  him, 


i 


i 


111 


m  i'f. 


11. 


,1) 


154 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


and  he  came  presently.  After  he  had  passed  with  the  Governor  some 
words  of  offering  his  services,  he  gave  hira  such  men  for  his  carriages 
as  he  needed,  and  thirty  women  for  slaves.  In  that  place  was  a 
Christian  lost,  called  Manrano,  born  in  Salamanca,  of  noble  parent- 
age, which  went  astray  to  seek  for  grapes,  whereof  there  is  great 
store,  and  those  very  good.  The  day  that  the  Governor  departed  from 
thence,  he  lodged  at  a  town,  subject  to  the  lord  of  LUibaliaU;  and 
the  next  day  he  came  to  another  town  called  TuasL  The  Indians 
gave  the  Governor  thirty  women,  and  such  men  for  his  carriages 
as  he  needed.  He  traveled  ordinarily  five  or  six  leagues  a  day,  when 
he  traveled  through  peopled  countries ;  and  going  through  deserts,  he 
inarched  as  fast  as  he  could,  to  eschew  the  want  of  maize.  From 
Toad,  passing  through  some  towns  subject  to  a  cacique,  which  Avas 
lord  of  a  province  called  Talli'sc,  he  traveled  five  days.  He  came  to 
Tallise  the  18tli  of  September.  The  town  was  great,  and  situated 
near  unto  a  main  river.  On  the  other  side  of  the  river  were  other 
towns,  and  many  fields  sown  with  maize.  On  both  sides  it  was  a  very 
plentiful  country,  and  had  store  of  maize ;  they  had  voided  the  town. 
The  Governor  commanded  to  call  the  cacique  ;  who  came,  and  between 
them  passed  some  words  of  love  and  offer  of  his  services,  and  he  pre- 
sented unto  him  forty  Indians.  There  came  to  the  Governor  in  this 
town,  a  principal  Indian  in  the  behalf  of  the  cacique  of  Tascalaca, 
and  made  this  speech  following  : — 

"  Mighty,  virtuous,  and  esteemed  lord,  the  great  cacique  of  Tasca- 
luca,  my  lord,  sendeth  by  me  to  kiss  your  lordship's  hands,  and  to  let 
you  understand  that  he  hath  notice  how  you  justly  ravish  with  your 
perfections  and  power,  all  men  on  the  earth ;  and  that  every  one  bjN 
whom  your  lordship  passeth,  doth  serve  and  obey  you,  which  he  ac- 
knowledgeth  to  be  due  unto  you,  and  desireth,  as  his  life,  to  see  and 
to  serve  your  lordship.  For  which  cause  by  me  he  offcrcth  himself, 
his  lauds  and  subjects,  that  when  your  lordship  pleaseth  to  go  through 
his  country,  you  may  be  received  with  all  peace  and  love,  served  and 
obej-ed ;  and  that  in  recompense  of  the  desire  he  hath  to  see  you,  you 
will  do  him  the  favor  to  let  him  know  when  you  will  come;  for  how 
much  the  sooner,  so  much  the  greater  favor  he  shall  receive." 

The  Governor  received  and  dispatched  him  graciously,  giving  him 
beads,  which  among  them  were  not  much  esteemed,  and  some  other 
things  to  carry  to  his  lord.  And  he  gave  license  to  the  Cacique  of 
Cora  to  return  home  to  his  own  country.  The  Cacique  of  Tallisc 
gave  him  such  men  for  burdens  as  he  needed.     And  after  he   had 


EXPEDITION  OF  HERNANDO  DE  SOTO. 


156 


rested  tliere  twenty  days,  ho  departed  tlicnco  towards  Tascahca. 
That  day  when  he  went  from  TalU'se,  bo  lodged  at  a  great  town  called 
Casisfc.  And  the  next  day  passed  by  another,  and  came  to  a  small 
town  of  Tascaluca;  and  the  next  day  he  camped  in  a  wood,  two 
leagues  from  the  town  where  the  cacicjue  resided,  and  was  at  that 
time.  And  he  sent  the  master  of  the  camp,  Luijs  dc  Moscom,  with 
fifteen  horsemen,  to  let  him  know  he  was  coming.  The  cacique  was 
in  his  lodgings  under  a  canopy;  and  without  doors,  right  against  his 
lodgings,  in  a  high  place,  they  spread  a  mat  for  him,  and  two  cushions 
one  upon  another,  where  he  sat  him  down,  and  his  Indians  placed 
themselves  round  about  him,  somewhat  distant  from  him,  so  that  they 
made  a  place,  and  a  void  room  where  he  sat ;  and  his  chiefest  men 
were  nearest  to  him,  and  one  with  a  shadow  of  deer  skin,  which  kept 
the  sun  from  him,  being  round  and  of  the  bigness  of  a  target,  (juartcr- 
cd  with  black  and  white,  having  a  ruudle  in  the  midst ;  afar  off  it 
seemed  to  be  of  taffeta,  because  the  colors  were  very  perfect.  It  was 
set  on  a  small  staff  stretched  wide  out.  This  was  the  device  which 
he  carried  in  his  wars.  lie  was  a  man  of  a  very  tall  stature,  of 
great  limb.s,  and  spare,  and  well  proportioned,  and  was  much  feared 
of  his  neighbors  and  subjects,  lie  was  lord  of  many  territories  and 
much  people.  In  his  countenance  he  was  very  grave.  After  the 
master  of  the  camp  had  spoken  with  him,  ho  and  those  that  went 
with  him  coursed  their  horses,  prancing  them  to  and  fro,  and  now  and 
then  towards  the  place  where  the  cacique  was,  who,  with  much  gravity 
and  dissimulation  now  and  then  lifted  up  his  eyes,  and  beheld  them,  as 
it  were,  with  di.sdain.  At  the  Governor's  coming,  he  made  no  offer  at 
all  to  rise.  The  Governor  took  him  by  the  hand,  and  both  of  them 
sat  down  together  on  a  seat  which  was  under  the  cloth  of  state.  The 
cacique  said  these  words  unto  him  : — 

''  Mighty  lord,  I  bid  your  lordship  right  heartily  welcome.  I  re- 
ceive as  much  pleasure  and  contentment  with  your  sight,  as  if  you 
were  my  brother,  whom  I  dearly  loved  ;  upon  this  point  it  is  not  need- 
ful to  use  many  reasons ;  since  it  is  no  discretion  to  speak  that  in 
many  words,  which  in  few  may  be  uttered.  IIow  much  the  greater 
the  will  is,  so  much  more  giveth  it  name  to  the  works,  and  the 
works  give  testimony  of  the  truth.  Now  touching  my  will,  by  it  you 
shall  know  how  certain  and  manifest  it  is,  and  how  pure  inclination 
I  have  to  serve  you.  Concerning  the  favor  which  you  did  me,  in  the 
things  which  you  sent  me,  I  make  as  much  account  of  them  as  is 
reason  to  esteem  them,  and  chicily  because  tliey  were  yours,  Xow 
sec  what  service  you  will  command  mc." 


-V  .M\ 

u  .,.11 


:;■  .!  ; 


166 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


Ml 

m 


The  Governor  satisfied  hlin  with  sweet  word.s  and  with  great  brevity. 
When  he  departed  from  thence  ho  determined  to  carry  him  along 
with  him  for  some  cause,  and  at  two  days'  journey  he  came  to  a 
town  called  Piache,  by  which  there  passed  a  great  river.  The  Covernor 
demanded  canoes  of  the  Indians ;  they  said  they  had  them  not,  but 
that  they  would  make  rafts  of  canes  and  dry  timber,  on  which  he 
mig'it  pass  well  enough.  And  they  made  them  with  all  diligence 
and  speed,  and  they  governed  them ;  and  because  the  water  went  very 
slow,  the  Governor  and  his  people  passed  very  well. 

From  the  Port  de  Splrito  Santo  to  Apulachc,  which  is  about  an 
hundred  leagues,  the  Governor  went  from  east  to  west;  and  from 
Apalache  to  Cutlfachlqui,  which  are  four  hundred  and  thirty  leagues 
from  the  south-west  to  the  north-east;  and  from  Cntifachiqnl  to 
XuaUa,  which  are  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  leagues  from  the  south 
to  the  north;  and  from  Xunlla  to  Tascalum,  which  arc  two  hundred 
and  fifty  leagues  more,  an  hundred  and  ninety  of  them  he  traveled 
from  east  to  west,  to  wit,  to  the  province  of  Cora,  and  the  other  sixty 
from  Cora  to  Tascalaca  from  the  north  to  the  south. 

Having  passed  the  river  of  Piache,  a  Christian  went  from  his  com- 
pany from  thence  to  seek  a  woman  slave  that  was  run  away  from  him, 
and  the  Indians  either  took  him  captive,  or  slew  him.  The  Governor 
urged  the  cacique  that  ho  should  give  account  of  him,  and  threatened 
him  that  if  he  were  not  found  he  would  never  let  him  loose.  The 
cacique  sent  an  Indian  from  thence  to  Mavilla,  whither  they  were 
traveling,  which  was  a  town  of  a  principal  Indian  and  his  subject, 
saying  that  he  sent  him  to  advise  them  to  make  ready  victuals,  and 
men  for  carriages.  But  (as  afterwards  appeared)  he  sent  him  to 
assemble  all  the  men  of  war  thither  that  he  had  in  his  country. 
The  Governor  traveled  three  days,  and  the  third  day  he  passed  all 
day  through  a  peopled  country,  and  he  came  to  Mavilla  upon  Monday 
the  18th  of  October,  1540.  He  went  before  the  camp  with  fifteen 
horsemen  and  thirty  footmen.  And  from  the  town  came  a  Christian, 
whom  he  had  sent  to  the  principal  man,  three  or  four  days  before, 
because  he  should  not  absent  himself,  and  also  to  learn  in  what  sort 
the  Indians  were ;  who  told  him  that  he  thought  they  were  in  an  evil 
purpo.se ;  for  while  he  was  there,  there  came  many  people  into  the 
town,  and  many  weapons,  and  that  they  made  great  haste  to  fortify 
the  walls.  Luijii  de  Moscoso  told  the  Governor  that  it  would  be  good 
to  lodge  in  the  field,  seeing  the  Indians  were  of  such  disposition;  and 
he  answered,  that  he  would  lodge  in  the  town,  for  he  was  weary  of 


EXI'EDITrON  OP  IIEKNANDO  DK  SOTO. 


157 


lodging'  in  tlio  ficlil.  AVhon  ho  catiio  near  unto  tlio  town,  tlio  cacique 
canio  forth  to  rocoivo  him  with  many  Indians  phiying  upon  Anton  and 
(singing.  And  after  ho  had  offered  himself,  ho  presented  him  with 
throe  mantles  of  marterns.  The  (Jovornor,  with  both  the  caciques, 
and  .seven  or  eight  men  of  his  guard,  and  three  or  four  horsemen, 
which  alighted  to  accompany  him,  entered  into  the  town,  and  .sat  him 
down  under  a  cloth  of  state.  The  caci(juc  of  Tim:nhira  re(|uestod 
him  that  ho  would  let  him  remain  in  that  town,  and  trouble  him  no 
more  with  traveling.  And  seeing  ho  would  not  give  him  leave,  in 
his  talk  he  changed  his  purpose,  and  di.sscmblingly  feigned  that  he 
would  speak  with  some  principal  Indians,  and  rose  up  from  the  ])lace 
where  ho  sat  with  the  (iovernor,  and  entered  into  a  house,  where 
many  Indians  were  with  their  bows  and  arrow.s.  The  (iovernor  when 
ho  saw  ho  returned  not,  called  him,  and  he  answered  that  he  would 
not  come  out  from  thence,  neither  would  he  go  any  farther  than  that 
town,  and  that  if  he  would  go  his  way  in  peace,  he  should  presently 
depart,  and  i^liould  not  seek  to  carry  him  perforce  out  of  his  country 
and  territory. 

The  Governor  seeing  the  determination  and  furious  answer  of  the 
cacique,  went  about  to  pacify  him  with  fair  words ;  to  which  he  gave 
no  answer,  but  rather  with  nmch  pride  and  disdain,  withdrew  himself 
where  the  Ciovernor  might  not  see  him  nor  .speak  with  him.  As  a 
principal  Indian  passed  that  way,  the  Governor  called  him,  to  send 
him  word  that  he  might  remain  at  his  pleasure  in  his  country,  and 
that  it  wou'd  please  him  to  give  him  a  guide,  and  men  for  carriages, 
to  sec  if  he  could  pacify  him  with  mild  words.  The  Indians  an- 
swered with  great  pride,  that  ho  would  not  hearken  unto  him.  Bai- 
tamr  dc  Ga/l(yo^,  which  stood  by,  took  hold  of  a  gown  of  martcrns 
which  ho  had  on,  and  he  cast  it  over  his  head,  and  left  it  in  his 
hands  :  and  because  all  of  them  immediately  began  to  stir,  lldlasar 
de  Gidliyos  gave  him  such  a  wound  with  his  cutlass,  that  he  opened 
him  down  the  back,  and  presently  all  the  Indians  with  a  great  cry 
came  out  of  the  houses  shooting  their  arrows.  The  Governor  con- 
sidering that  if  he  tarried  there,  he  could  not  escape,  and  if  he  com- 
manded his  men  to  come  in,  which  were  without  the  town,  the  In- 
dians within  the  houses  might  kill  their  hor.se.s,  and  do  much  hurt, 
ran  out  of  the  town,  and  before  ho  came  out,  he  fell  twice  or  thrice, 
and  those  that  were  with  him  did  help  him  up  again ;  and  he  and 
those  that  were  with  him  were  sore  wounded ;  and  in  a  moment 
there  were  five  Christians  slain  in  the  town.     The  Governor  came 


1. 


ll 


1 1!   flit 


Mti 


159 


lllSTOUICAL  COLLECTIONS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


running  out  of  the  town,  crying  out  that  every  man  should  stand 
further  off,  because  from  the  wall  tlicy  did  thorn  much  hurt.  The 
Indians  seeing  that  the  Christians  retired,  and  some  of  them,  or  the 
most  part,  more  than  an  ordinary  pace,  shot  with  great  bohJne.is  at 
them,  and  struck  down  such  as  tlicy  couhl  overtake.  The  Indiana 
which  the  Christians  did  lead  with  them  in  chains,  had  laid  down 
their  burdens  near  unto  the  walls :  and  as  soon  as  the  Governor  and 
his  men  were  retired,  the  men  of  MaviUa  laid  them  on  the  Indians' 
backs  again,  and  took  them  into  the  town,  and  loosed  them  presently 
from  their  chains,  and  gave  them  bows  and  arrows  to  fight  withal. 
Thus  they  possessed  themselves  of  all  the  clothes  and  pearls,  and  all 
that  the  Christians  had,  which  their  slaves  carried.  And  because  the 
Indians  had  been  always  peaceable  until  wo  came  to  this  place,  some 
of  our  men  had  their  weapons  in  their  fardels,  and  remained  unarmed. 
And  from  others  that  had  entered  the  town  with  the  (lovernor  they 
had  taken  swords  and  halberds,  and  fought  with  them.  When  the 
Governor  was  gotten  into  the  field,  he  called  for  a  horse,  and  with 
some  that  accompanied  him,  he  returned  and  slew  two  or  three  In- 
dians. All  the  rest  retired  themselves  to  the  town,  and  shot  with  their 
bows  from  the  wall.  And  those  which  presumed  of  their  nimbleness, 
sallied  forth  to  fight  a  stone's  cast  from  the  wall.  And  when  the 
Christians  charged  them,  they  retired  themselves  at  their  leisure  into 
the  town.  At  the  time  that  the  broil  began,  there  were  in  the  town  a 
friar  and  a  priest,  and  a  servant  of  the  Governor,  with  a  woman  slave; 
and  they  had  no  time  to  come  out  of  the  town,  and  they  took  a 
house,  and  so  remained  in  the  town.  The  Indians  being  become 
masters  of  the  place,  they  shut  the  door  with  a  field  gate ;  and  among 
them  was  one  sword  which  the  Governor's  servant  had,  and  with  it 
he  set  himself  behind  the  door,  thrusting  at  the  Indians  which  sought 
to  come  into  them ;  and  the  friar  and  the  priest  stood  on  the  other 
side,  each  of  them  with  a  bar  in  their  hands  to  beat  him  down  that 
first  came  in.  The  Indians  seeing  tlioy  could  not  get  in  by  the  door, 
began  to  uncover  the  house  top.  By  this  time  all  the  horsemen  and 
footmen  which  were  behind,  were  come  to  MavHla.  Here  there  were 
sundry  opinions,  whether  they  should  charge  the  Indians  to  enter  the 
town,  or  whether  they  should  leave  it,  because  it  was  hard  to  enter ; 
and  in  the  end  it  was  resolved  to  set  upon  them. 

As  soon  as  the  battle  and  the  rereward  were  come  to  MaviUa,  the 
Governor  commanded  all  those  that  were  best  armed  to  alight,  and 
made  four  squadrons  of  footmen.     The  Indians,  seeing  how  he  was 


EXPEDITION  OF  HERNANDO  DE  HOTO. 


loO 


Hotting  his  men  in  order,  cnncludcil  with  the  csu'ifiiic,  that  ho  j<IiouM 
go  hi.-f  way,  saying  unto  him,  as  after  it  was  known  hy  ci'rtain  women 
tliat  were  taken  tiiero,  that  ho  was  but  one  man,  and  could  fight  but 
for  one  man,  and  that  they  had  there  among  them  many  principal 
Indians,  very  valiant  and  expert  in  feats  of  arms,  that  any  one  of  them 
was  able  to  order  the  people  there ;  and  forasmuch  as  matters  of  war 
wore  subject  to  casualty,  and  it  was  uncertain  which  part  should  over- 
eomo,  they  wished  him  to  save  himself,  to  the  end,  that  if  it  fell  out  that 
they  should  end  their  days  there,  as  they  determined  rather  than  to 
bo  overcome,  there  might  remain  one  to  govern  the  country.     For  all 
this  he  would  not  have  gone  away ;  but  they  urged  him  so  nmch,  that 
with  fifteen  or  twenty  Imlians  of  his  own,  ho  went  out  of  the  town, 
and  curried  away  a  scarlet  cloak,  and  other  things  of  the  Christians' 
goods,  as  much  as  he  was  able  to  carry,  and  seemed  best  unto  him. 
The  (lovernor  was  informed  how  there  went  men  out  of  the  town,  and 
he  commanded  the  horsemen  to  beset  it,  and  sent  in  every  scjuadron 
of  footmen  one  soldier  with  a  firebrand  to  set  fire  on  the  houses,  that 
the  Indians  might  have  no  defence ;  all  his  men  being  set  in  order^ 
he  commanded  an  arquebuss  to  be  shot  off.     The  sign  being  given, 
the  four  squadrons,  every  one  by  itself  with  great  fury,  gave  the  on- 
set, and  with  great  hurt  on  both  sides  they  entered  the  town.     The 
friar  and  the  priest,  and  those  that  were  with  them  in  the  house  were 
saved,  which  cost  the  lives  of  two  men  of  account,  and  valiant,  which 
came  thither  to  succor  them.     The  Indians  fought  with  such  courage, 
that  many  times  they  drove  our  men  out  of  the  town.     The  fight 
lasted  so  long,  that  for  weariness  and  great  thirst  many  of  the  Christians 
went  to  a  pool  that  was  near  the  wall,  to  drink,  which  was  all  stained 
with  the  blood  of  the  dead,  and  then  came  again  to  fight.     The  Go- 
vernor seeing  this,  entered  among  the  footmen  into  the  town  on  horse- 
back, with  certain  that  accompanied  them,  and  was  a  mean  that  the 
Christians  came  to  set  fire  on  the  houses,  and  broke  and  overcame  the 
Indians,  who  running  out  of  the  town  from  the  footmen,  the  horse- 
men without  drove  in  at  the  gates  again,  where  being  without  all 
hope  of  life,   they  fought  valiantly,  and  after  the  Christians  came 
among  them  to  handy  blows,  seeing  themselves  in  great  distress,  with- 
out any  succor,  many  of  them  fled  into  the   burning  houses,  where 
one  upon  another  they  were  smothered  and  burnt  ju  the  fire.     The 
whole  number  of  the  Indians  that  died  in  this  town,  were  two  thousand 
and  five  hundred,  little  more  or  less.     Of  the  Christians  there  died 
eichteou ;  of  which  one  was  Dun  6 «j7o.s,  brother-in-law  to  the  Go- 


I    I'.l 


m 


,'\- 


m 


11 


100 


HISTORICAL  COLLKCTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


vcrnor,  and  a  ncplicw  of  his,  and  (ttio  ./o/m  iff  (lumc:,  ami  Min  liml. 
ri'i/ur,-:,  I'ortuguc'.so,  and  John  Viisi/iir:  dv.  Vlllanoi-a  ifr  llttnn  Iiufit, 
all  men  of  honor,  and  of  much  valor;  tho  rest  woro  footnion.  lie- 
sides  those  that  were  slain,  there  wore  a  hundred  and  lll'ty  wounded, 
with  seven  hundreil  woundu  of  their  arrows  :  and  it  pleased  (lod  that 
of  very  daii^^erous  wounds  they  were  ((uiekly  healed.  Moreover  there 
were  twelve  horses  slain,  and  seventy  hurt.  All  the  elothes  whieh 
the  (,'hristians  carried  with  them  to  clothe  themselves  withal,  and  the 
ornaments  to  say  mass,  and  tho  pearls,  were  all  burnt  there ;  and  tho 
Christians  did  set  them  on  lire  them.selves ;  because  they  held  for  a 
greater  inconvenience,  tho  hurt  whieh  tho  Indians  might  do  them 
from  those  houses,  where  they  had  ^fathered  all  thosi;  floods  top'tlier, 
than  tho  loss  of  then).  Here  tho  (Jovernor  understood  that  /'ran- 
CISCO  Miildoititdo  waited  for  him  at  the  Port  of  Oc/iiini',  and  that  it 
was  six  days'  journey  from  thence  (JItivi7l<i),  and  he  dealt  with  JiJiii 
Orh'r:  to  keep  it  secret,  because  ho  had  not  accomplished  that  which 
ho  determined  to  do ;  and  because  the  pearls  were  burnt  there,  which 
ho  meant  to  have  sent  to  Cn/ju  for  a  show,  that  the  peojde  hearing 
the  news,  might  be  desirous  to  come  to  that  country.  lie  feared  also, 
that  if  they  should  have  news  of  him  without  seeing  front  Florida 
neither  gold  nor  silver,  nor  anything  of  value,  it  would  get  such  a 
name,  that  no  man  would  seek  to  go  thither,  when  ho  should  have 
need  of  people.  And  so  he  determined  to  send  no  news  of  hini.self 
until  he  had  found  some  rich  country. 

From  the  time  that  thedovernor  entered  into  Florida,  until  his  de- 
parture from  Marilla,  there  died  a  hundred  and  two  Christians,  some 
of  sickness,  and  others  which  the  Indians  slew.  lie  stayed  in  Mar  ilia, 
because  of  the  wounded  men,  cight-and-twcnty  days;  all  whieh  time 
ho  lay  in  the  field.  It  was  a  well  inhabited  and  a  fat  country,  there 
were  some  great  and  walled  towns,  and  many  houses  scattered  all 
about  the  fields,  to  wit,  a  crossbow  shot  or  two,  the  one  from  the 
other.  Upon  Sunday,  the  eighteenth  of  November  (1540),  when 
the  hurt  men  were  known  to  be  healed,  the  Governor  departed  from 
Mavilla.  l']very  one  furnished  himself  with  maize  for  two  days,  and 
they  traveled  five  days  through  a  desert :  they  came  to  a  province 
called  Pafallaya,  unto  a  town  named  Taliqmtaca:  and  from  thence 
they  went  to  another,  called  CchuHto :  near  unto  it  ran  a  great  river. 
The  Indians  on  the  other  side  cried  out,  threatening  the  Christians  to 
kill  them,  if  they  sought  to  pass  it.  The  Governor  commanded  his 
men  to  make  a  barge  within  the  town,  because  the  Indians  should  not 


Cti 

ni 


r,\i'i:i)iTii>\  nr  iir.iiVAMvt  m:  soto. 


101 


poroiivo  it :  it  was  fini^lwil  in  four  (I;iy«,  anil  I'driLr  finlcl,  Ik'  ciiii- 
luaiiili'l  it  tci  lie  oarricil  otic  iii^^Iit  mtoii  slnl.s  lialt'  a  IcaL'tic  up  tlic 
rivor.  In  tlu'  innniin;:  fliirc  I'litiTiMl  into  it  tliirtccn  men  well  aniiril. 
Tho  IndiaiiH  pcn'i'ivi'il  what  was  attcnipti'il,  ami  tliosi;  wliicli  Wdv 
noaivst,  caiiio  to  <lofon(l  tl\i'  passatrt*.  They  ivsistcd  what  they  conM. 
till  tho  Christians  canii!  niar  them;  ami  h'oiing  that  llu'  hart't' cann' 
to  tlu'  ^holv,  they  th'il  away  into  tho  grovos  df  oaiu-s.  'I'lio  Christians 
mountoil  on  horschaok,  and  wrut  up  tho  rivor  to  niako  j.'oo(l  tho  ]ias- 
sago,  whoi'cliy  tho  liovenior  and  his  oonipany  passi^l  tho  rivor.  Tiioro 
woro  aloiii;  tho  rivor  fonio  towns  widl  stored  willi  niaizo  and  h'n  noli 
1/oaus.  ]''roin  thonoo  to  ('hirarit  tho  (lovcrnor  tiavolod  liv(>  days 
throiij:li  a  dosort.  Ilo  oanio  to  a  river,  where  on  tiio  otlier  side  wore 
Indians  to  (ht'ond  tho  passairo.  ilo  made  another  har-c  in  two  davs; 
ami  when  it  was  linished,  the  (Jovornor  sent  an  Indian  to  recjuost  tho 
oaeiipio  toaocopt  of  his  friendship,  and  poacoahly  to  oxpoot  his  ooniii\jr: 
w'aoni  tho  Indians  that  woro  on  tho  other  si<li!  tho  rivor  slow  Ixforo 
his  faoo,  and  presently  nialdiiLT  a  j^roat  shout  went  tlnir  way.  Hav- 
ing passod  tho  rivor,  tho  next  day,  heiiig  tho  17th  of  IK'Oenihor,  the 
(iovornor  came  to  C/ii<(irii,  a  small  town  ef  twenty  house^.  And 
after  thoy  were  come  to  ('hu-ura,  they  woro  much  troul>lo(l  with  cold, 
liecauso  it  was  now  winter  and  it  snowed,  wliilo  most  of  thoni  wore 
lodged  in  tho  fiokl,  hofure  thoy  had  tinio  to  malco  thomsolvcs  liousos. 
This  oountry  was  vory  widl  ])ooplod,  and  tho  houses  scattered  like 
those  of  Macllla,  fat  and  plentiful  of  maize,  ami  the  most  part  of  it 
vas  fielding:  thoy  gathorod  as  muoli  as  sullieod  to  pass  the  winter. 
iSomc  Indians  woro  talcon,  among  which  was  one  whom  the  cacique 
cstoomod  greatly.  The  (.Jovornor  sent  an  Indian  to  signify  to  the 
cacique  that  he  desired  to  see  him  and  to  have  his  friendship.  TIk^ 
caci(juo  came  unto  him,  to  offer  him  his  person,  country  and  suhjeots, 
and  told  him  that  ho  would  cause  two  other  caoi(jues  to  come  to  him 
in  peace;  who  within  a  fow  days  after  came  with  him  and  with  their 


Indians.     Tho  one  was  called  Al. 


iiixnnn. 


tho  other  AVicd/dsn.     T! 


i^'.V 


gave  a  present  unto  the  Governor  of  a  hundred  and  iifty  coneys,  and  of 
tho  country  garments,  to  wit,  of  mantles  and  skins.     The  Cacique  ol' 


C7^ 


(  came  to  visit  him  many  times;  and  sometimes  the  Ciovernor 


sent  to  call  him,  and  sent  him  a  horse  to  e;o  and  c 


omo. 


II 


<>  oom- 


plained  unto  him  that  a  subject  of  his  was  risen  against  him  and 
deprived  him  of  his  trilmte,  roijuosting  his  aid  against  him,  for  ho 
meant  to  seek  him  in  his  country,  and  to  punish  him  according  to  his 
desert.  AVhieli  was  nothing  else  but  a  feigned  plot.  For  they  dc- 
1-2 


vl 


M 
(1 '  f 


i 


162 


rnSTOIlTCAL  COLLKCTIONH  OF  LOUrstAXA. 


tcriiiiiicil,  !is  SDiin  a;^  tlic  ( !(iV(.'nior  was  L'ono  ■\vitli  liiiii,  ami  (lio  eainp 
was  (Iivii]t'il  into  two  parts,  the  (Hie  pari  of  tliom  to  Ht't  upon  the  (io- 
venmr  ami  tlio  otlicr  ujmiii  tliciii  that  remained  in  (!lt!v<i<;ti.  Jle 
went  to  the  town  where  lie  vised  to  keep  his  residence,  and  brou^dit 
with  him  two  hundred  Indians  with  their  Lows  and  arrows.  The 
(lovernor  took  thirty  horsemen  and  eighty  footmen,  and  they  went 
to  Siiijinc/niiKd  {{'w  so  was  tlie  ])rovinee  called  of  that  chief  man, 
which  he  said  had  rebelled).  Tiiej  lound  a  walled  town,  without  any 
men :  and  tliose  which  went  with  the  cacique  set  iiro  ou  the  houses, 
to  dissemble  their  treason.  Vnit  by  reason  of  the  great  cave  and 
lieedfulness,  that  was  as  well  in  tiie  (iovcrnor's  people  which  he  car- 
ried with  him,  as  of  those  which  remained  in  Cltittirn,  they  daro  not 
assault  tliem  at  that  time.  The  Governor  invited  the  caei(jue,  and 
certain  principal  Indians,  and  gave  them  hog's  flesh  to  eat.  And 
though  they  did  not  commonly  use  it,  yet  they  were  so  greedy  of  it, 
that  everv  ni^ht  there  came  Indians  to  certain  houses  a  crossbow  shot 
from  the  camp,  where  the  hogs  lay,  and  killed,  and  carried  away  as 
many  as  they  eouM.  ^Vnd  three  Indians  were  taken  in  the  manner. 
Two  of  them  the  (iovernor  commanded  to  bo  shot  to  death  with 
arrows;  and  to  cut  oil'  the  hands  of  the  other;  and  ho  sent  him  so 
handled  to  the  cacique.  Who  male  as  though  it  grieved  him;  yet 
they  had  ofiended  the  (iovernor,  and  that  he  was  glad  that  he  had 
executed  that  punishment  on  them,  lie  lay  in  ii  plain  country,  half 
..  league  from  the  ]ilaee  where  tlu;  (.'hristians  lodged.  Four  horsemen 
went  a  straggling  thither,  to  wit.  Franc Uco  Osorto,  and  a  servant  of 
the  3Iar((uis  of  ^\sfoiy<i,  called  Krj/)iii^<t^  and  two  servants  of  the  Go- 
vernor, the  one  his  page,  called  RUm  ra,  and  the  other  Fuot/ni^,  his 
chamberlain:  and  these  had  taken  from  the  Indiana  some  skins,  and 
some  mantles,  wherewith  they  were  ofleuded,  and  forsook  their  houses. 
The  Governor  knew  of  it,  and  commanded  thcni  to  be  apprehended; 
and  condemned  to  diiath  Franclsa)  Osorio,  and  the  chamberlain  as 
principals,  and  all  of  them  to  loss  of  goods.  T'le  friars  and  priests 
and  other  principal  persons M'ere  earnest  with  him  ti  pardon  Francifca 
Osorlo  his  life,  and  to  moderate  his  sentence,  w! '-U  he  would  not 
grant  for  any  of  tliem.  A\'hile  he  was  ready  to  ciiimand  them  to 
be  drawn  to  tlie  market-place  tt»  cut  oil'  their  heads  there  came  cer- 
tain Indians  from  the  caci(iue  to  comjjlain  of  them.  Julni  Ortrj,  at 
the  reijui'st  of  Jjit/fto'dr  <lc  (ia//i</os  and  other  persons,  changed  their 
words,  and  told  the  Governor,  that  the  cacique  said,  he  had  ncjtiee  how 
his  lordship  held  those  Christians  in  prison  for  his  sake,  and  that  ihcy 


-WSi 


■**•-»»*■ 


) 


EXl'KiilTlON  OF  IIEUXAMiO  liK  SOTO. 


n;:; 


V'-l 


•.vovo  ill  nci  f;iulr,  ne'itlu'V  hail  tln'v  di.nc  liim  any  wn^n-',  ami  tliat  If 
he  wouM  (111  liiiu  any  favor,  he  sliuiihl  set  them  fni'.  Ami  lu'  tnlil 
the  Indians,  that  the  Clovernor  said  he  luul  them  in  prison,  aii'l  that 
he  would  punish  them  in  such  sort,  that  they  j^houW  he  an  example 
to  others.  Hereupon  tlie  Governor  commanded  the  prisoners  to  be 
loosed.  As  soon  as  March  was  come,  he  determined  to  dejiart  from 
CI' I'rant,  and  demanded  of  tlie  caei<(ue  two  hundred  men  for  carriages. 
He  sent  him  answer  that  he  v.'ould  speak  with  his  principal  men. 
Upon  Tuesday,  the  eighth  of  3Iarch,  l."»41,  the  (Jovernor  went  to  the 
town  where  he  was,  to  ask  him  for  the  men:  ho  told  him  he  would 
send  them  tlie  next  day.  As  soon  as  the  (Jovernor  was  come  to 
CJu'''ani,\\Q  told  Liii/.<  di:  Misfnso,  the  camp-master,  that  he  mislIkLd 
the  Indians,  and  that  lie  shuuld  kee[)  a  strong  wateh  that  niglvt,  whlcli 
he  remembered  but  a  little.  Tlie  Indians  came  at  the  second  wateli 
in  four  S(|uadrons,  every  one  ]iy  itself,  and  as  soon  as  they  were  des- 
cried, they  sounded  a  drum,  and  gave  the  :issault  with  ;i  great  cry, 
and  with  so  great  celerity,  that  presently  they  entered  with  the  scouts, 
that  were  somewhat  distant  from  the  camp.  And  when  they  were 
perceived  of  them  which  were  in  the  town,  half  the  houses  were  on 
fire,  which  they  had  kindled.  That  niglit  three  hor.semen  chanced  to 
bo  scouts;  two  of  them  were  of  base  calling,  and  the  worst  men  in  all 
the  camp,  aiul  the  other,  whieli  v,as  a  nephew  of  the  (Jovernor,  which 
until  then  was  held  for  a  tall  man,  showed  himself  there  as  great  a 
coward  as  any  of  them:  for  all  of  them  ran  away.  And  the  l;idians 
without  any  resislance  came  and  set  the  town  on  fire;  and  tarried 
without  behind  the  doorii  for  the  Christians,  which  ran  out  (if  the 
houses,  not  liaving  any  leisure  to  arm  themselves;  and  as  they  ran 
hither  and  thithia-  amazed  with  the  noise,  and  blinded  with  the  smoke 
and  flame  of  the  fire,  they  knew  not  which  way  they  went,  neitbev 
could  they  light  upon  their  weapons,  nor  saddle  their  horses,  neither 
saw  they  the  Indians  that  shot  at  them.  3Iany  of  the  horses  were 
burned  in  the  stables,  and  those  which  could  break  their  halters  u'ot 
loose.  The  disorder  and  flight  was  such  that  every  man  fled  which 
way  ho  could,  without  leaving  any  to  resist  the  Indians.  lUit  God 
^which  chastiseth  his  according  to  his  phasure,  and  in  the  greatest 
necessities  and  dangers  sustaiueth  tliem  with  his  hand)  so  blinded 
the  Inditms,  that  they  .saw  not  what  they  had  done,  and  thought  that 
the  horses  wliieh  ra)i  loose,  were  men  on  horseback,  that  gathered 
themselves  togi'thrr  to  set  upon  them.     The  Governor  only  rode  ou 


1 


horseback,  and  with  b 


111) 


ikb 


er  Ci 


died 


/  (Unit, 


am 


1  set  upiiu  the 


I! 


1G4 


IIISTOUICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


Indian.-,  and  striking  tlio  lirst  he  met  with  his  Li.jcc,  the  sailJlc  fell 
witli  liiiu,  which  with  haste  was  evil  ginled,  and  j^o  he  fell  from  his 
horse.  And  all  the  j)e(iple  that  were  on  foot  were  fled  to  a  wood  out 
of  the  town,  and  tliere  assembled  themselves  together.  And  because 
it  was  night,  and  that  the  Indians  tliought  the  horses  were  men  on 
horseback  which  came  to  set  upon  tin  ni,  as  I  said  before,  they  fled; 
and  one  only  remained  dead,  and  th;  t  was  ho  whom  the  Governor 
slew  with  his  lance.  The  town  lay  all  burnt  to  ashes.  There  was  a 
woman  burned,  who,  after  she  and  her  husband  were  both  gone  out 
of  their  house,  went  in  again  for  certain  pearls  which  they  had  forgot- 
ten, and  wlien  she  would  have  come  out,  the  fire  was  so  great  at  the 
door  that  she  could  not,  neither  could  her  husband  succor  her.  ()th(?r 
three  Christians  came  out  of  their  lodgings  so  cruelly  burned,  that  one 
of  them  died  within  tlnvo  days,  and  the  other  two  were  carried  many 
days  each  of  them  upon  a  couch  between  staves,  which  the  Indians 
carried  on  their  shoulders,  for  otherwise  they  could  not  travel.  There 
died  in  this  hurlyburly  cloven  Christians,  and  lift}'  horses ;  and  there 
remained  a  hundred  hogs,  and  four  hundred  were  burned.  If  any 
perchance  had  saved  any  clothes  from  the  fire  of  JRai'lla,  here  they 
Were  burned,  and  many  were  clad  in  skins,  for  they  had  no  leisure  to 
take  their  coats.  They  endured  much  cold  in  this  place,  and  the 
chiefest  remedy  were  great  fires.  They  spent  all  night  in  turnings 
without  sleep :  for  if  they  warmed  one  side,  they  freczcd  on  tlie  other. 
Some  invented  the  weaving  of  certain  mats  of  dry  ivy,  and  did  wear 
one  beneath,  and  another  above :  many  laughed  at  this  device,  whom 
afterward  necessity  enforced  to  do  the  like.  The  Clu'istians  were  so 
spoiled,  and  in  such  want  of  saddles  and  weapons  which  were  burned, 
that  if  the  Indians  had  come  the  second  night,  they  had  overcome 
them  with  little  labor.  They  removed  thence  to  the  town  where  the 
cacique  was  wont  to  lie,  because  it  was  in  a  champaign  country.  With- 
in eiglit  days  after,  there  were  many  lances  and  saddles  made.  There 
Wt-re  ash-trees  in  those  parts,  whereof  they  made  as  good  lances  as  in 
Liseay. 

Upon  Wedncsdaj',  tlie  l.")th  of  ]\Iarch,  1541,  after  the  Governor 
had  lodged  eight  days  in  a  plain,  half  a  league  from  the  place  which 
ho  had  wintered  in,  after  he  had  set  up  a  forge,  and  tempered  the 
sworils  which  in  ('Jii<(ii;a  were  burned,  and  made  many  targets, 
saddles,  ami  lances  ;  on  Tuesday  night,  at  the  morning  watch,  many 
Indians  came  to  as>;uilt  the  camp  in  three  stjuadrons,  every  one  by 
thom.-elves.    Those  which  watched  cave  the  alarm.     The  Governor 


i|»,W 


ifWiWWW 


mm 


EXrEPITION  OF  nERXAXDO  I)E  .SOTO. 


10.") 


with  great  ."spcoil  f^ct  lii.s  men  in  order  in  otlior  tliree  squadrons,  ami 
leaving  h^nnic  to  doftml  tlio  camp,  wont  out  to  oncountcr  tluMn.  Tlie 
Indiaiis  wore  ovorcouic  and  put  to  flight.  Tlit3  ground  was  cham- 
paign and  lit  for  the  Christians  to  take  the  advantage  of  them;  and  it 
was  now  l)reak  of  da}'.  lUit  tliere  happened  a  disorder,  \vherel)y  tlierc 
were  not  past  thirty  or  forty  Indians  slain  :  and  this  it  was  :  that  a 
friar  cried  out  in  the  camp  without  any  just  occasion,  "To  the  camp, 
to  the  camp."  Whereupon  ilic  Governor  and  all  the  rest  repaired 
thither,  and  the  Indians  had  time  to  save  themselves.  There  were 
some  taken,  by  whom  the  Clovcruor  informed  himself  of  the  country 
through  which  he  was  to  pass.  The  2.")tli  of  April,  he  di'partod  from 
Chicaiyr,  and  lodged  at  a  small  town  called  A/inuDnu.  They  had 
very  little  maize,  and  they  were  to  pass  a  desert  of  seven  days'  journey. 
The  next  day,  the  Governor  sent  three  ctiptains,  every  one  his  way, 
with  horsemen  and  footmen  to  seek  provisions  to  pass  the  desert. 
And  Juhii  Da)ii)u.<rf)  the  Auditor  went  with  fifteen  horsemen  ami 
forty  footmen  that  way  that  the  Go/ernor  was  to  go,  and  found  a 
t-trong  fort  made,  where  the  Indians  s;  ayed  for  him,  and  many  of  them 
walked  on  the  top  of  it  with  their  weapons,  having  their  bodies,  thighs, 
and  arms  ochrcd  and  dyed  with  black,  white,  yellow  and  red,  striped 
like  unto  panes,  so  that  they  showcl  as  though  they  went  in  hose  and 
doublets  :  and  some  of  them  had  plumes,  and  oth;rs  had  horns  on 
their  heads,  and  their  faces  black,  and  their  cj^es  done  round  aboiit 
with  steaks  of  red,  to  seem  more  fierce.  As  soon  :i  ■  they  saw  that 
the  Christians  approached,  with  a  groat  cry  sounding  t\.  nis  with 

great  fury  they  sallied  forth  to  receive  them.  JoJin  Dunnusro  and 
those  that  were  with  him  thought  good  to  avoid  them,  and  to  ac(juaint 
the  Governor  therewith.  They  retired  to  a  plain  place,  a  crossbow- 
shot  from  the  fort,  in  sight  of  it :  the  footmen,  the  crossbow-men,  and 
targeters  placed  themselves  before  the  horsemen,  that  they  might  not 
hurt  the  horses.  The  Indians  sallied  out  by  se'ven  and  seven,  and 
eight  and  eiglit,  to  shoot  their  arrows,  and  retired  again  :  and  in  sight 
of  the  Christians  they  mside  a  fire,  and  took  an  Indian,  some  by  the 
feet,  and  some  by  the  head,  and  made  as  though  they  went  to  cast 
him  into  the  fire,  and  gave  him  first  many  knocks  on  the  head  :  signi- 
fying th;it  they  meant  so  to  handle  the  Christians.  ./■//;/(  J>i.iiiiiit!«:o 
sent  three  horsemen  to  advertise  the  Governor  hereof.  He  came  pri'- 
sently:  for  his  intent  was  to  drive;  them  from  thence,  saying,  that  if 
he  did  it  not,  thev  would  be  endjoldened  to  charL'e  him  another  time, 
when  tliey  might  do  him  more  harm,     lie  made  the  horsemi.'u  to 


It 


■  ,i  i 


pi 

111 


m 


100 


TirsTonirAL  collections  or  locisfaxa. 


aliirlit,  :iik1  set  liis  lucii  in  fmir  squadrons.  Tlii'  slirn  being  givon,  tlio}' 
i-i'l  ujii  11  tlio  Indians,  A\liicli  made  resistance  till  the  Christians  came 
near  the  I'tirt,  and  as  soon  as  they  saw  they  could  not  defend  th(nu- 
Sidves,  by  a  plaee  wliere  a  brook  pa>seil  near  the  fort,  tliey  ran  awa}', 
and  from  the  other  side  they  shot  sonic  arrows;  and  because  at  that 
in-tant  wc  knew  no  ford  fur  the  liorse.s  to  pass,  they  had  time  enough 
to  get  out  of  our  danger.  Three  Indians  were  slain  there,  and  UKiny 
(,'hristians  were  hurt,  whereof  within  few  days,  there  died  fifteen  b}' 
the  way.  All  men  tlnjught  the  (lovernor  to  lie  in  fault,  because  he 
sent  not  to  sec  the  disposition  of  the  place  on  the  other  side  of  the 
river,  and  to  know  the  passage  before  he  set  upon  them.  For  with 
the  hope  they  had  to  save  themselves  liy  flight  that  way,  when  they 
saw  none  other  means,  they  fought  till  they  were  broken,  and  it  was 
an  encouragement  to  defend  themselves  until  then,  and  to  offend  the 
riiristians  without  any  danger  to  themselves. 

'J'liree  days  aft(ir  they  had  sought  some  maize,  whereof  they  found 
but  little  store,  in  regard  of  that  which  was  needful,  and  that  for  this 
cause,  as  M-ell  f(n'  their  sakes  that  were  wounded,  it  was  needful  for 
them  to  rest,  as  f n-  the  great  journey  they  were  to  march  to  come 
where  store  of  maize  was  :  yet  the  Governor  was  enforced  to  depart 
presently  toward  (Jm'-.ijin'::.  lie  traveled  seven  days  through  a  desert 
of  many  marshes  and  thick  woods  :  but  it  might  all  be  traveled  on 
horseback,  except  some  lakes  which  they  swam  over.  lie  came  to  a  town 
of  the  province  of  Qui'::iiui:.  without  being  descried,  and  took  all  the 
people  in  it  before  theycami;  out  of  tlieir  houses.  The  mother  of  the 
caci(|ue  was  taken  there  :  and  he  sent  unto  him  by  an  Indian,  that 
iv.)  should  come  to  see  him,  and  that  ho  would  give  him  his  mother, 
and  all  the  people  which  he  had  taken  there.  The  cacique  sent  him 
answer  again,  that  his  lordship  should  loose  and  send  them  to  him, 
anil  that  he  would  conu;  to  visit  and  serve  hiin.  The  (lovernor, 
because  his  people  for  want  of  maize  ■were  somewhat  weak  and  weary, 
and  the  horses  also  Avere  lean,  ditcrniiued  to  accouiplisli  his  request, 
to  see  if  he  could  have  peace  with  him,  and  so  commanded  to  set  free 
his  mother  and  all  the  rest,  and  with  loving  words  dismissed  them  and 
.sent  them  to  him.  The  next  day,  when  the  Governor  expected  the 
caci((ue,  there  came  many  Indians  with  their  bovv's  and  arrows  with  ;; 
purpose  to  set  upon  the  Glirisiians.  The  Governor  liiid  commanded 
all  the  horscjnen  to  be  armed,  and  on  horseback,  and  in  readiness. 
"When  the  Indians  saw  that  they  were  ready,  they  stayed  a  cro,«sbow- 
shot  from  the  place  where  the  Governor  was,  near  a  brook.     And  after 


'-■r— ■! 


V.XI'KDITION  OF  iri;UNAM)ii  DK  SOTO. 


107 


half  an  hour  tliut  thry  had  sfnnil  thi'iv  still,  there  ciiin'  to  the  iain]i 
a'lx  i»rineii")al  liulians,  and  .«aid,  "they  came  to  sou  what  people  tluy 
were,  and  that  lonii;  ajrn,  fliey  had  licen  infurined  by  their  forefathers 
that  a  white  people  should  suhdue  iheni;  and  that  tlu-refnrc  they 
would  return  to  their  caciijue,  and  liid  him  eunio  pre>e:itly  to  nhey 
and  serve  the  (jnvernor:"  and  after  they  had  presented  him  with  six 
or  seven  skins  and  mantles  wliiili  they  hrnutiht,  they  took  their 
leave  of  him,  and  returned  with  the  others,  which  waited  for  them  Ity 
the  brook  side.  The  caci(iuc  never  came  a^'ain  nor  sent  other  mes- 
sage. And  because  in  the  town  where  the  (Jovernor  LkIucmI,  there 
was  suiall  store  of  niai/e,  he  removed  to  another  half  a  league  from 
it/'/  G'riim/rj'''-  where  they  found  plenty  of  niai/.e.  And  he  went  to  see 
the  river,  and  found,  that  near  unto  it  was  great  store  of  timber  to 
make  barges,  and  good  situation  of  ground  to  encamp  in.  I'reseutly 
he  removed  himself  thither.  'I'liey  made'  houses,  and  jiitched  their 
camp  in  a  plain  held  a  crossbow-shot  from  the  river.  And  thither 
^Yas  gathered  all  the  nniizo  of  the  towns  Avhich  they  had  lately  ]>assed. 
Thej'  began  presently  to  cut  and  hew  down  timber,  and  to  saw  jtlanks 
for  barges.  The  Indians  came  presently  down  the  liver :  they 
leaped  on  shore,  and  declared  to  the  (Jovernor,  "that  they  were  sub- 
jects of  a  great  lord,  whoso  name  was  Aijuirn^  who  was  lord  of  many 
towns,  and  governed  man;,  peojile  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  and 
came  to  tell  him  on  his  behalf,  that  the  next  day  he  with  all  his  men 
would  come  to  sec  what  it  would  please  him  to  commtind  him.  The 
next  day,  with  speed,  the  caciijue  came  with  two  hundred  canoes  fid! 
of  Indians  with  their  bows  and  arrows,  jjainted,  and  with  great  plumes 
of  white  feathers,  and  many  other  colors,  with  shields  in  their  hands, 
wherewith  they  defended  the  rowers  on  both  sides,  and  the  men  of 
war  stood  from  the  head  to  the  stern,  wi;'i  their  bows  and  arrows  in 
their  hands.  The  canoe  wherein  the  caeiipie  was,  had  a  tilt  ove;-  the 
stern,  and  he  sat  under  the  tilt ;  and  so  were  other  canoes  of  th(' 
principal  Indians.  And  from  under  the  tilt  where  the  chief  man  sat, 
he  governeil  and  commanded  the  other  people.  All  joiui'd  together, 
and  came  within  a  stone's  cast  eif  the  tihore.  l''rom  thence  the  caci'iU' 
.said  to  the  (Jovernor,  which  walked  along  the  river's  side  with  others 
that  waited  on  him,  that  he  was  come  thither  to  visit,  to  honor,  and 


to  obi 


jcy  lum;  because  he  knew  he  Avas  tlie  greatest  and  mightic-t 
lord  on  the  earth:  therefore  he  would  see  what  he  would  command 
liim  to  do.     The  (governor  yielded  l.dm  thaidcs,  and  recpiested  him  to 


;:  ff 


ii 


*   Rio  Grauile,  or  Iliu  Je  E^pirilu  Santo. 


IGS 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


come  on  slioro,  tliut  tlicy  might  the  bettor  oonimunicote  together. 
Ami  without  any  answer  to  that  point,  he  sent  him  three  canoes, 
wherein  was  great  store  of  fish  antl  hjaves,  made  of  the  substance  of 
[iruues  like  unto  bricks.  After  he  had  received  all,  bo  thanked  him, 
and  prayed  him  again  to  come  on  shore.  And  because  the  cacicjue's 
purpose  was,  to  see  if  with  dissimulation  ho  might  do  some  hurt, 
when  they  saw  that  the  Governor  and  his  meu  were  in  readiness,  they 
began  to  go  from  the  shore  :  and  with  a  great  cry,  the  crossbow-men 
which  were  ready,  shot  at  them,  and  slew  live  or  si.K  of  them.  They 
retired  with  great  order  :  none  did  leave  his  oar,  though  the  next  to 
him  were  slain,  and  shielding  themselves,  they  went  farther  off. 
Afterward  they  came  many  times  and  landed:  and  when  any  of  us 
came  toward  them,  they  fled  into  their  canoes,  which  were  very 
jileasant  to  behold  :  for  they  were  very  great  and  well  made,  and  had 
their  tilts,  plumes,  pauesos,  and  flags,  and  with  the  multitude  of  people 
that  were  in  them,  tlu^y  seemed  to  be  a  fair  army  of  galleys.  In 
thirty  days'  space,  while  tlie  (Jover)ior  remained  there,  theymado  four 
barges  :  in  three  of  which  he  commanded  twelve  horsemen  to  enter, 
in  each  of  them  four.  In  a  morning,  three  hours  before  day,  men 
which  he  trusted  would  land  in  despite  of  the  Indians,  and  make 
sure  the  passage,  or  die,  and  some  footmen,  being  crossbow-men,  went 
with  them,  and  rowers  to  set  them  on  the  other  side.  And  in  the 
other  barge  he  commanded  Jnlin  de  (Ji(-.man  to  pass  Avith  the  foot- 
men, which  was  made  captain  instead  of  Fnntn'sco  Jluldoiiado.  And 
because  the  stream  was  swift,  they  went  a  (juarter  of  a  league  up  the 
river  along  the  bank,  and  crossing  over,  fell  down  with  the  stream, 
and  landed  right  over  against  the  camp.  Two  stones'  cast  before  they 
came  to  land,  the  horsemen  went  out  of  the  barges  on  horseback  to  a 
sandy  plot  very  hard  and  clear  ground,  where  all  of  theui  landed 
without  any  resistame.  As  soon  as  those  that  passed  first  were  on 
land  on  the  other  si  le,  the  barges  returned  to  the  place  where  the 
( Jovernor  was  :  and  within  two  hours  after  sun  rising,  all  the  peojile 
were  over.  The  river  was  almost  halt  a  league  broad.  If  ;>.  man 
stood  still  on  the  other  side,  it  could  not  be  discerned  whether  he  was 
a  man  or  no.  The  river  was  of  great  depth,  and  of  a  strong  current : 
the  water  wa,->  always  muddy:  there  came  down  the  river  continually 
many  trees  and  timber,  which  the  force  of  the  water  and  stream 
brought  down.  There  was  great  store  of  fish  in  it  of  sundry  sorts, 
and  the  most  of  it  diliering  fumi  the  fresh  Avater  fish  of  Sj^niin,  a- 
hereafter  shall  be  sho'.ved. 


'J 


EXrEDITION  OF  IIERXANDO  DE  SOTO. 


1G9 


> 


Having  passotl  Rio  Grande,  the  (iovornor  traveled  a  league  and 
a  balf,  and  came  to  a  great  town  of  Aijuin),  which  was  (li.^pcnjilod 
before  he  came  thither.  They  espied  thirty  Indians  cuniinLT  ovt'r  a  phiin, 
which  the  caciijue  .seUi  to  discover  the  Christians'  determination  ;  and 
as  soon  as  tlity  had  .sight  of  them,  they  took  themselves  to  fliglit.  The 
horsemen  pursued  thcui,  and  slew  ten,  and  took  lifteen.  And  because 
the  town,  whither  the  Governor  went,  wa.s  near  unto  the  river,  be  sent 
a  captain,  with  as  many  men  as  ho  thought  sufficient,  to  carry  the 
barges  up  the  river.  And  because  in  his  traveling  by  land  many  time.< 
he  went  far  from  the  river  to  compass  the  creeks  that  came  from  it, 
the  Indians  took  occasion  to  set  upon  them  of  the  barges,  and  put  them 
in  great  danger,  because  that  by  reason  of  the  great  current,  they  durst 
not  leave  the  shore,  and  from  the  bank  they  shut  at  them.  As  .soon 
as  the  Governm*  was  come  to  the  towr,  he  presently  sent  crossbow- 
men  di  iwn  the  river,  which  came  to  rescue  them  ;  and  upon  the  coming 
of  the  barges  to  tlie  town,  he  comm;uuled  them  to  be  broken,  isnd  to 
save  the  iron  for  others,  when  it  should  bo  needful,  lie  lay  tlierc 
one  night,  and  the  day  following  he  set  forward  to  seek  a  province, 
called  Pacalia,  which  he  was  informed  to  be  near  unto  C/iiticd,  where 
the  J  Mans  told  him  there  was  gold.  lie  passed  through  great  tnwns 
of  A(^uLro,  whicli  were  all  abandoned  for  fear  of  the  Cliristians.  lie 
understood  by  certain  Indians  that  were  taken  that  three  days'  journey 
from  thence  dwelt  a  great  cacique,  whose  name  was  t'(WjH!.  He 
came  to  a  small  river,  where  a  bridge  was  made,  by  which  they  passed; 
that  day  till  sunset,  they  went  all  in  water,  wliich  in  some  places  came 
to  the  waist,  and  in  some  to  the  knees.  When  they  saw  tliemsclves 
on  dry  land,  they  were  very  glad,  because  they  fe;u-ed  they  should 
wander  up  and  down  as  forlorn  men  all  night  in  ♦ho  A/ater.  \i  noon 
they  came  to  the  first  town  of  Castjiii:  they  found  th':  Indians  careless, 
because  they  had  no  knowledge  of  them.  There  were  many  men  and 
"vromen  taken,  and  store  of  goods,  as  mantles  and  skins,  as  well  in  th-, 
lii-1  t(jwn,  as  in  another,  which  stood  in  a  field  half  a  league  frou 
thence  iu  sight  of  it;  whither  the  horsemen  ran.  This  country  is 
higher,  drier,  and  more  champaign,  than  any  part  liordering  near  the 
river  that  until  then  they  had  seen.  There  were  in  the  fields  many 
walnut  trees,  bearing  soft-shelled  walnuts  in  the  fashion  like  bulluts, 
and  in  the  houses  they  found  many  of  them,  which  the  Indians  had 
store.     The  trees  differed  in  uothin<r  else  from  tliosi;  of 


ui)  in 


laid 

Sjiui'ii,  nor  from  those  wliicli  we  had  seen  before,  but  only  that  tlioy 

liavc  a  smaller  leaf.     There  were  many  mulberry  trees  and  plum  tvee?j 


I   f 


id 
'1 


170 


IIISTOHK'AI,  CoLMsCTlONS  Ol'  l,ni;iSlANA. 


uliich  bai'o  rod  pliinis  like  tlio.'^t'  of  S'ihiui,  :iiii1  otliors  gray,  8(inu'\vli;tt 
dinin-iiiL',  but  far  Iicttcr.  Ami  all  tlio  tri'os  arc  all  tlic  year  so  fniitriil. 
as  if  tlicy  were  jilaiiti'fl  in  orcliards ;  ami  tlic  Wdods  wcro  very  thin. 
Tlio  (Jovcrnor  traveled  two  days  tlimujjjh  the  eonntrydf  (.'(tsijui,  lafon 
he  eanie  to  the  town  where  the  eaeii|U(^  was;  and  the  most  nf  thf  way 
was  alway  hy  ehanii)aign  ground,  whieh  was  full  of  groat  towns,  so  tliai 
from  one  town,  you  might  see  two  or  throi;.  Ifo  .sent  an  Indian  to 
eortify  the  caei(|Uo  that  ho  was  eoniing  to  the  jilaee  whoro  he  was, 
with  intent  to  procure  his  friendship,  and  (o  hold  him  as  his  brother. 
"Whereii'ico  he  answered,  that  he  should  he  M'elcome,  and  that  he 
Wiiuld  receive  him  with  special  good-will,  and  accomplish  all  that  his 
lordship  would  command  liini.  lie  sent  him  a  })resent  ujjou  the  way; 
to  wit,  skins,  mantles,  and  ii.sh  :  and  after  these  compliment.^,  the 
<iovernor  found  all  the  towns,  as  ho  pas.-^ed,  inhabited  with  peojilo, 
which  peaceably  attended  his  coming,  and  olVcrcd  him  skins,  mantles, 
and  iish.  The  cacique,  accompanied  with  many  Indians,  came  out  of 
the  town,  and  .stayed  half  a  league  on  the  way  to  receive  the  ( lovernor. 
and  when  ho  came  to  him,  ho  spake  those  words  following : — 

^'lilght  high,  right  mighty,  and  renowned  lord,  your  lordship  is 
most  heartily  welcome.  As  soon  as  I  had  notice  of  your  lordship,  of 
your  power,  and  your  perfections,  although  you  came  into  my  c(jinitry 
killing  and  taking  captives  the  inhabitants  thereof  and  my  subjects, 
yet  I  determined  to  conform  my  will  unto  yours,  and  a.s  your  own  to 
interpret  in  good  part  all  that  your  lordship  did :  believing  that  it 
was  couvonient  it  should  be  so  for  s(jmo  just  respect,  to  itrovont  some 
future  matter  revealed  unto  your  lordship,  and  concealed  from  nic. 
For  well  muy  a  mischief  bo  permitted  to  avoid  a  greater,  and  that  good 
may  come  thereof:  which  I  believe  will  so  fall  out.  l-'or  it  is  no 
reason  to  presume  of  so  excellent  a  prince,  that  the  nobleness  of  his 
heart,  and  the  cU'eet  of  his  will  would  permit  him  to  suffer  any  unjust 
thing.  My  ability  is  .so  small  to  serve  you  as  your  lordship  deserveth, 
that  if  you  respect  not  mine  abundant  good-will,  which  humbly  offoroth 
all  kind  of  service,  I  deserve  but  little  in  your  presonco.  J  hit  if  it 
be  reason  that  this  bo  ostoeuiod,  receive  the  same,  myself,  my  coun- 
try, and  subjects  for  yours,  and  dispose  of  me  and  thoni  at  your 
pleasure.  I'lir  if  [  were  lord  of  all  the  world,  with  t]\c  same  good-will 
;du)uld  your  lordship  by  mo  be  received,  served  and  obeyed." 

The  (iovernor  answered  him  to  the  purpose,  and  satisiied  him  in 
few  words.  AVithin  a  while  after  both  of  them  used  words  of  great 
offers  and   courtesy  tlie  one   to  the  other,  and  the  caci(juo  re((uested 


F.xrKDJTiii.N  or  iii;i{\ANiii)  i)i;  .soto. 


171 


liini  to  \ni\'^v  ill  Iii>  liuiivc-.  'I'lic  (IdVcninr,  in  jii'i'srrvr  lln'  ]h';i<(:  tlu' 
bettor,  txcuscil  liiiiiHull',  ^nyiuii-  lliat  lie  wmilil  \nA'jH'  in  llic  liclils.  Ajw? 
bt'ciiusi:  it  \v;is  very  Imt,  tlic)- luiiiiicd  mar  ccrhiin  trees  :i  (|ii;irliT  of  it 
IcagiU!  IViiin  till!  IdUii.  'J"ho  (•aci(iui' wiiit  to  liis  tnwn,  ami  caim' iiL'.iii- 
uitli  many  Imlians  ^in^inp;.  As  sunn  as  tlicy  canii'  to  tlu:  (Jovciiidr. 
all  of  tliLin  prostrati'il  tlu'nisclvcs  uiioii  flio  ground.  Among  tla'sc 
came  two  Tmlian.s  tliat  wcra  liliml.  The  caciijiie  made  a  spiurli  :  tc 
avoid  lediousiR'Ss,  1  will  only  tell  in  a  frwwonls  the  sulistancc  of  tin 
UKitlcr.  ifo  said,  that  sociiij:  tlie  (lovcnior  was  the  sou  of  the  Siiti. 
and  a  great  lord,  lie  besought  him  to  do  him  the  favor  to  give  sight  to 
those  two  blind  iiu'n.  The  blind  men  rose  uj)  presently,  and  very 
earnestly  re(|uested  the  same  of  the  Governor,  lie  answered,  that  iu 
the  high  heavens  was  he  that  had  power  to  give  them  health,  and 
wbatriocver  they  eould  ask  <if  him  ;  whose  servant  he  was:  and  that 
this  Lord  made  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  and  mini  after  his  own  liko- 
liess,  and  that  he  sull'ered  upon  the  eross  to  save  mankind,  and  rose 
again  t!ie  third  day,  and  that  he  died  as  he  was  mr.n,  and  as  touching 
bis  divinity,  he  was,  and  is  immortal;  and  that  he  aseended  into 
heaven,  where  he  standeth  with  liis  arms  open  to  re(  eive  all  siieh  as 
turn  unto  him  :  ;ind  straightway  he  eommanded  him  to  make  a  very 
high  eross  of  wood,  whieh  was  set  uji  in  the  highest  place  of  the  t(^wn; 
declaring  unto  him,  that  the  Christians  worshiped  the  same  in  resem- 
blance and  memory  of  that  whereon  Christ  suffered.  The  (iovernor 
and  his  men  kneeled  down  before  it,  and  llu!  Indians  did  the  like. 
The  Covernor  willed  him,  that  from  thenceforth  he  would  worship  the 
same,  and  should  ask  whatsoever  they  stood  in  need  of,  of  that  liord 
that  ho  told  him  was  in  heaven.  Then  ho  aski'd  him  how  far  it  was 
from  thence  to  Paculta.  lie  said,  one  day's  journey,  and  th.at  at  the 
end  of  hks  country,  there  was  a  lake  like  a  brook  which  falleth  into 
lHu  (liiiiitl ,  and  that  ho  would  send  men  before  to  make  a  bridge 
■whereby  he  might  pass.  The  same  day  that  the  ( Iovernor  de[.arted 
thence,  he  lodged  at  a  town  belonging  to  ('((sijiii ;  and  the  next  day 
ho  passed  iu  sight  of  other  towns,  and  c;imo  to  the  lake,  which,  was 
half  a  crossbow  shot  over,  of  a  great  de[)th  and  current.  At  the  time 
of  his  eounng,  the  Indians  had  maile  an  end  of  the  bridge,  which  was 
made  of  tindjcr,  laid  one  tree  after  another  :  and  on  one  side  it  had  v. 
cour.se  of  stakes  higher  than  the  bridge,  for  them  that  passed  to  tako 
hold  on.  The  Caei([ue  of  (W.<Y/u'eame  to  the  (Iovernor,  and  brnugh"; 
his  peoj lie  with  him.  The  Covernor  sent  word  by  an  Indian  to  tlio 
Caeiipie  of  racii/nr,  that  though  he  were  enemy   to  tlu.'  (.'aei(|uc  i»i 


1 


I  /i: 


17-i 


llISTCinirAL  COLl.KCTIONS  OF  LOLTSrANA. 


Cast/iii,  ami  tlioufrli  Ik;  wcro  tlicrc,  jct  lie  wouM  ilo  liim  no  dis<^r;ice 
nor  hurt,  if  Iio  would  attend  liiiii  p  acfaltly,  and  I'mlmieo  his  IVicnd- 
.-hip;  but  ratlicr  wnuld  intrvat  liim  as  a  brutlu'r.  The  Tndian,  which 
the  (iovi'mur  f^ciit,  canic!  atriiii,  and  haid  that  the  cacique  made  ud 
account  of  that  which  he  tuld  him,  hut  lh;d  with  all  his  men  out  at  tlnj 
other  side  of  the  town.  Presently  tiio  Cidvernor  entered,  and  ran 
before  with  the  hi)r,«enien,  that  way  by  which  the  Indians  lied  ;  and 
at  another  town,  distant  a  quarter  <<\'  a  lea^^uo  from  thence,  they  took 
many  Inilians;  and  as  soon  as  the  hor,<einen  had  taken  them,  they 
delivered  them  to  the  Indians  of  Cai^ijiit,  whom,  because  they  were 
their  enemies,  with  much  circumspection  and  rejoicing,  they  brought 
to  the  town  where  the  Christians  were  :  and  the  fxreatest  grief  they  had 
was  this,  that  they  could  not  get  leave  to  kill  them.  There  were 
found  in  the  town  many  mantles,  and  deer  skins,  lion  skins,  and  bear 
skins,  and  many  cat  skins.  3Iany  came  so  far  poorly  appareled,  and 
there  they  clothed  themselves  :  of  the  mantles,  they  made  them  coats 
and  cassocks,  and  some  made  gowns,  and  lined  them  with  cat  skins  ; 
and  likewise  their  cassocks.  Of  the  deer  skins,  some  made  them  also 
jerkins,  shirts,  ho.se  and  shoes  :  and  of  the  bear  skins,  they  made  them 
very  :j.'iiod  eluaks  :  for  no  water  could  pierce  them.  There  were  targets 
of  raw  o.K  hides  found  there;  with  wdiich  hides  they  armed  their  horses. 
Upon  Wednesday,  the  lOth  of  June,  1541,  the  (iovcrnor  entered 
into  Pantha.  He  lodged  in  the  town,  wdiere  the  cacitjuc  used  to  re- 
side, which  was  very  great,  walled,  and  beset  with  towers,  and  many 
loopholes  were  in  the  towers  and  wall.  And  in  the  town  was  great 
store  of  old  mai/.e,  and  great  (quantity  of  new  in  the  fields.  AVithiu 
a  league  and  half  a  league  were  great  towns  all  walled.  Where  the 
Governor  was  lodged  was  a  great  lake,  that  came  near  unto  the  wall; 
and  it  entered  into  a  ditch,  that  went  round  about  the  town,  wanting 
but  a  little  to  environ  it  around.  From  the  lake  to  the  great  river 
was  made  a  wear  by  wdiich  the  lish  came  into  it;  which  the  caciiiue 
kept  for  his  recreation  and  sport,  ^^'ith  nets  that  were  found  in  the 
tov,n,  they  took  as  much  as  they  would ;  and  took  they  never  so 
much,  there  was  no  want  perceived.  There  was  also  great  store  of 
fish  in  many  other  lakes  that  Avcrc  thereabout,  but  it  was  soft,  and  not 
so  good  as  that  which  came  from  the  ri^'cr,  and  the  most  of  it  was 
JiiFereut  from  the  fresh-water  fish  of  Sj^xiin.  There  was  a  fish  which 
they  called  bagrcs;  the  third  part  of  it  was  head,  and  it  had  on  both 
fciides  the  gills,  and  along  the  sides  great  pricks  like  very  sharp  awls. 
Those  of  the  kind  that  were  iu  the  lakes  were  as  big  as  pike\s;  and  in 


■w?r 


EXl'KDITIfiN  01'  HKRNANDO  DE  SCtTfi. 


nn 


tilt;  rivL'i-  tlii'i'i'  \\c\v  sonic  of  ati  luindrod,  uinl  of  :iii  lnindnil  and  fit'fj 
pounds  wi'iLrlit,  and  iii.niy  of  tlicin  wcro  taken  with  tlir  liouk,  Tlirrc 
was  anotlicr  lisli  liko  liarMllos,  and  another  liko  lireains,  licadcd  likr 
a  delicate  fisli,  called  in  Sjun'ii  Iicshl'o,  lietwevn  rcil  and  ;:i'ay,  Thi^ 
was  tliuro  of  most  esteem.  Tliero  was  another  fisli  cjilled  jicel  (i>h; 
it  had  a  snout  of  a  cubit  loni;,  and  at  tlio  end  of  the  ujiiter  lip  it  was 
made  liko  a  iicel.  Then;  was  another  fish  called  a  western  shad  ;  and 
all  of  thorn  had  scales,  except  the  bagroa,  and  the  peel  iish.  There  wan 
another  fish  which  sometimes  tho  Indians  brought  us,  of  the  biL'uess 
of  a  hog;  they  called  it  the  pereo  fish;  it  had  rows  of  teeth  be- 
neath and  above.  The  ('a('i(iuo  of  Citstjiii  sent  many  times  great 
presents  of  fish,  mantles,  and  skins,  lie  tuld  the  ( loverrior  that  he 
would  deliver  tlu;  Caciijue  of  P(trahn  into  his  hanils.  lie  went  to 
Cusi^Hi,  and  sent  many  canoes  up  the  river,  and  came  himself  by  land 
with  many  of  his  people.  The  (iovernor,  with  forty  horsemen  and 
sixty  footmen,  took  him  along  with  him  up  the  river.  And  his  In- 
dians which  were  in  the  canoes,  discovered  where  the  (';icii|ue  of 
Paraha  was,  in  a  little  i.sland,  .situated  between  two  arms  of  the 
river.  And  five  Christians  entered  into  a  canoe,  wherein  Dmi  Antu- 
in'u  Osori'i  went  before,  to  see  what  people  the  caci(jue  had  with  him. 
There  were  in  the  isle  five  or  six  thousand  souls.  And  as  soon  as 
they  saw  them,  supposing  that  the  Indians  which  were  in  the  other 
canoes  were  also  Christians,  the  cacicjue,  and  certain  which  were  in 
three  canoe.s,  which  they  had  there  with  them,  fled  in  great  luiste  to 
the  other  side  of  the  river.  The  rest,  with  great  fear  and  danger, 
leapt  into  the  river,  where  many  people  were  drowned,  especially  wo- 
men and  little  children.  Presently  the  Governor,  who  was  on  land, 
not  knowing  what  had  happened  to  Don  Antun'tn  and  tlio.«(!  that 
went  with  him,  commanded  the  Christians  with  all  speed  to  enter 
with  the  Indians  of  Casqui  in  the  canoes,  which  were  (piickly  with 
Don  Antonio  in  the  little  i.sland,  where  they  took  many  men  and 
women,  and  much  goods.  Great  store  of  goods,  which  the  Indian^ 
had  laid  upon  hurdles  of  canes  and  rafts  of  timber  to  carry  over  to 
the  other  .side,  drove  down  the  river,  wherewith  the  Indians  of  Casupii 
filled  their  canoes;  and  for  fear  lest  the  Christians  would  takt;  it  from 
them,  the  cacique  went  home  with  them  down  the  river,  without 
taking  his  leave  of  the  Governor;  whereupon  the  Governor  was  highly 
ofl'euded  with  him,  and  presently  returning  to  Purnlio^  lie  overran 
the  country  of  Cusqiii'  the  space  of  two  leagues,  where  he  took  twenty  or 
thirty  of  his  men.     And  because  his  horses  were  woary.  and  In?  wanted 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


t 
^ 


// 


<_ 

^  .5.^ 


A.^ 


/. 


/^l<^^ 

*  'W 


fA 


V 


v: 


^%. 


'>:> 


^ 


'^y 


(? 


/ 


1.0 


■;  lit 


■  2.2 

ii 

iiy£ 

L25  111  U   1 1.6 


I.I 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


«r^ 


^ 


f\ 


.V 


\\ 


V 


6^ 


13  WIST  MAIN  STREfT 

WeSSTER.N.Y.  USSO 

(716)  873-4503 


f 


174 


11I.-;T(iU1(A1.  cnl, lections  (IF  LOllSIANA. 


tiiiu'  thilt  u.'iy  ti)  go  any  I'lirtlicr,  !u!  rctunuil  to  Pnr.ilni^  v.itli  I'l  (cnui- 
iiafiiiii  williin  tlirco  or  fmu'  days  after  (n  inva'lc!  ('n.ojiii.  Ainl  piv- 
-ciitly  lie  k't  Idiiso  (iiic  I't'  the  liuliaii-^  of  J'/ca/i'i,  aii'l  sriU  wnnl  liy 
him  tit  the  faei(|ue,  that  if  he  wnitlil  liave  hi-  friendship,  he  sIiouM 
?c'jiuir  tiiiti)  him,  and  that  h(itli  nf  them  wdiiM  maki' war  upon  ''nfiiiii. 
And  presently  came  many  Indians  that  heloniicd  to  rd'-nlm,  and 
lirouuiit  an  Indian  instead  of  the  caeiipio,  whieh  was  discoverod  hy 
the  eaeiijue's  hrnther,  whieli  was  taken  prisdiier.  The  (Jovernor 
wished  the  Indians  that  their  mailer  himself  should  come;  for  he 
knew  very  well  that  that  was  not  he,  and  told  them  that  the^-  could 
do  nothing  which  he  knew  not  before  they  thipught  it.  The  next  day 
the  cacique  came,  accompanied  with  many  Indians,  and  with  a  pre- 
sent of  much  lish,  skins  and  mantles,  lie  made  a  speech  that  all 
were  glad  to  hear,  and  concl'Jiled  saying,  that  though  his  lurd.-hip. 
without  his  giving  occa^inii  of  oflenc'3  had  done  hin>  hurt  in  his 
country  and  suhjects,  yet  he  woidd  not  therefnre  refuse  to  be  his,  and 
that  he  would  always  he  at  his  command.  The  (lovernor  commanded 
his  brother  to  be  loosed,  and  other  principal  Indians  that  were  taken 
prisoners.  That  day  came  an  Indian  from  the  Cacique  of  ('ii.-<iin', 
and  saiil  that  his  lord  would  come  the  next  i-hy  to  excuse  himself 
of  the  error  \,-hich  Ik;  had  committed,  in  guing  away  Avithont  license 
•  if  the  (Jovernor.  The  (Jovernor  willed  the  messenger  to  .«ignity  unto 
liin),  that  if  he  came  not  in  his  own  person,  he  world  seek  him  him- 
self, an  '  give  him  such  punishment  as  he  deserved.  The  next  day 
with  all  speed  camo  the  (_'aei<pie  of  Cnsijin',  and  brought  a  jiresent  to 
the  (Jovernor  of  many  mantles,  .skin.s,  and  fish,  and  gave  him  a 
daughter  of  hi.s,  saying  that  he  greatly  desired  to  match  his  blood 
with  tlie  blood  of  so  great  a  lord  as  he  was,  and  therefore  he 
brought  him  his  daughter,  and  desired  him  to  take  her  to  his 
wife.  lie  made  a  Ioiil'  and  discreet  oration,  giving  him  groat 
commendations,  and  concluded,  saying,  that  he  should  pardeni  his 
going  away  without  license,  for  that  cross's  sake  which  he  had  left 
with  him;  protesting  that  he  went  away  for  shame  of  that  which  his 
men  had  done  without  his  consent.  The  (lovernor  answered  him 
that  he  hal  chnseii  a  good  patron;  and  that  if  he  had  not  come  to 
excuse  himself,  he  had  determined  to  sei'k  him,  to  burn  his  towns,  to 
kill  him  and  his  people,  aud  to  destroy  his  country.  To  which  he  re- 
plied, .saying: 

"  My    bird,  I  and  mine  are    yours,  and   my   country  likewise  is 
yours;  tli  refore  if  ynu  had   done  .so,    you    should   have    destroyed 


1* 


i;.\ri:iiiThi.\  nv  iikknammi  hi;  -(iio.  1,.> 

your  Mwn  I'l'iintry.  aii'l  Iiavc  kill' 1  vmir  uwu  jin.j.li';  \v!i:it.-(.,'Vi'i- .-lia!! 
conu'  uiilo  lilt'  (Vi'iii  viiur  li:>iil,  1  will  ivucive  !i<  fiMiii  my  Innl,  :i>  wrl! 
jiuiii-IiiiM  111.  a<  ivwanl  ;  aii^l  ki:nw  you,  tliat  tlic  laVMi- wliicli  ymi  iliil 
iiic  in  K'aviiii:'  iin'  the  crn— ;,  I  do  ackimwlcilM-c  tlic  saiiii'  t')  l.i'  a  vrry 
givat  niic,  anil  -Tcatcr  than  1  havi'  v\rr  ilf-crvcil.  Vov  ydu  -Iiall  lui- 
dcrstainl,  thai  vritli  irvat  'ln".'.L'lit<  tin"  lirMs  df'  mai/.i'  of  my  country 
\\\w  wiilicivil;  ami  as  ^""n  as  F  ami  my  jienplo  knrcli'il  licf'nrc  thr 
(•ni>>,  aiiil  prayt.'d  for  rain,  itrcxiitly  nur  nci/cssitii's  woro  rclicvcil." 

The;  (InviM'nor  inaili'  him  ami  the  ('aci(|ii('  of  PikhIki,  tVicmls;  ami 
-et  tlu'Hi  with  him  at  his  tahlo  to  dim-  with  him  ;  and  the  carliinr-;  till 
at  variance  aiiout  the  seats,  whieli  nl'  them  slmuM  >it  "n  hi-  ri::ht  hand. 
The  (Iiivermir  paeilied  tlimi;  telling''  them  that  amnuLf  the  Christians 
all  was  nne  to  sit  on  the  diie  >ide,  nr  nn  tlie  dthrr.  willinir  them  so  to 
hehavo  themsidvrs,  seeing' they  were  Mith  him,  that  nolmly  miiiht 
Iiear  thrm,  and  that  every  one  slmuld  sit  in  the  plaee  that  tirst  he 
ii;..dited  on.  Vx^Aw  theuee  he  sent  thirty  horsemen  and  lii'ly  t'liutinen 
to  the  pmvinee  nf  (Jidioyi,  to  see  it"  from  tln'nce  he  miiiht  trav(d  to 
([^if'.-i-Kj  where  the  Indians  said  there  was  a  work  of  gi'M  and  copper. 
They  traveled  seven  days'  Journey,  throngii  a  desert,  and  returnctl 
very  weary,  eating  green  plums,  and  stalks  of  maize,  which  they 
eiund  in  a  p^or  town  of  six  or  seven  houses,  l-'rom  thencei'orwarcl 
towards  the  north,  the  Indians  >aid  that  the  country  was  viry  ill  in- 
I'.ahited,  because  it  was  very  eoM;  and  that  there  wa-  such  store  of 
oxen,  that  they  could  keep  no  corn  f(U-  them  ;  and  that  the  Indians 
lived  upon  their  llesh.  The  (rovernor,  seeing  th;it  loward  that  part 
the  country  was  .so  poor  of  maize  that  in  it  they  could  not  ho  sus- 
tained, demanded  of  the  Indians  which  wny  it  was  most  inUaKitcd  ; 
and  they  said,  they  had  nf)ticc  of  a  great  province,  and  a  very  jilenti- 
ful  country,  which  was  called  'Juif/diifi-,  and  that  it  was  toward  the 
south. 

The  (lovernor  rc.-ted  in  l'<ir<t/i(f  forty  day-;;  in  all  Mhi(di  time  the 
two  caciiiucs  served  him  with  great  store  of  lish,  mantles,  and  skins, 
and  strove  who  should  do  him  g.  atest  service.  At  the  time  of  his 
d(^parturo  the  (,'acirp'e  of  I'tca/ni  gave  him  two  of  his  sisters,  saying 
that  in  sign  of  love  that  he  iniglit  romonihur  him,  ho  should  take 
them  for  his  wives  :  the  one's  name  was  M(ir/t)inrlir,  ami  tlni  other's 
M'iiJi!(,(  :  they  were  well  proportioned,  tall  of  hody,  and  w.dl  lle-hed. 
M'ii-(in"i]n  was  of  a  gooil  countenance,  and  in  her  shape  and  j.hy-ing- 
noiny  lookeil  like  a  huly ;  the  other  was  strongly  made.  The  Ca- 
cifjuo  of   CVvy.;/  oommando'l  the  liridge  to    ho  rep;iire  1,  ;in  I  the   <io- 


m 


li 


17G 


liiSTttUirAL  COLLKCTIONS  »)1'  LOUISIANA. 


vcniur  returncil  tlirougli  hU  cnuntry,  ami  lodiioil  in  tlio  full  luar  lii>: 
town,  wliithor  he  canuMvitli  <rrr;it  store  tif  iisli,  and  two  wnnu'U,  wliieh 
ho  I'xcliangod  with  two  Cliristians  tor  two  shirts.  lit;  yave  us  u 
guide  and  men  lur  carriages.  The  (Jovernor  hidged  at  a  town  of  hi.-i, 
and  the  next  day  at  another  near  a  river,  whither  he  eausid  canors 
to  he  brought  f(jr  him  to  pass  over,  and  with  his  leave  returned.  The 
GoveriKir  took  his  jdurney  toward  (^iilijuute.  Tlie  fourth  day  of 
August  ho  eamc  to  tlie  town,  where  the  cacit|ue  used  to  Iceej)  his  re- 
sidence :  on  the  way  ho  sent  him  a  present  fif  many  mantles  and 
skins,  and  not  daring  to  stay  for  him  in  the  town,  he  ab.scntcd  him- 
self. The  town  was  the  greatest  that  was  seen  in  Florida.  The 
Governor  and  his  people  lodged  in  the  one-half  of  it;  and  M-ithin 
few  days,  seeing  the  Indians  became  liars,  he  connnanded  the  other 
half  to  be  burned,  because  it  should  not  be  a  shelter  for  them,  if 
they  came  to  assault  him  by  night,  nor  a  hinderance  to  his  horse- 
men for  the  resisting  of  them.  There  came  an  Indian  very  well  ac- 
companied with  many  Tndi.  ns,  saying  that  he  was  the  caei(iue.  lie 
delivered  him  over  to  the  men  of  his  iruard  to  look  unto  him.  There 
went  and  came  many  Indians,  and  brought  mantles  and  skins.  The 
counterfeit  cacique,  seeing  so  little  opportunity  to  execute  his  evil 
thought,  as  he  went  one  day  abroad  talking  with  the  fJovcrnor,  ho 
showed  him  such  a  pair  of  heels,  that  there  wa.s  no  Christian  that 
could  overtake  him,  and  he  leaped  into  the  river,  which  was  a  cross- 
bow shot  from  the  town :  and  as  soon  as  he  was  on  the  other  side, 
many  Indians  that  wore  thereabout  making  a  great  cry  began  to  shoot. 
The  Governor  passed  presently  over  to  them  with  horsemen  and  foot- 
men, but  they  durst  not  tarry  for  him.  (^loing  forward  on  his  way, 
he  came  to  a  town  where  the  people  were  fled,  and  a  little  further  to 
a  lake,  where  the  horses  could  net  pass,  and  on  the  other  side  were 
many  women.  The  footmen  passed,  and  took  many  of  them,  and 
much  spoil.  The  Governor  came  to  the  camp,  and  that  night  was  a 
spy  of  the  Indians  taken  by  them  of  the  watch.  The  Governor  asked 
him,  whether  he  would  brinn;  him  where  the  cacique  was  'i  he  said 
ho  would.  And  he  went  pre-ently  to  seek  him,  with  twenty  horse- 
men and  fifty  footmen  ;  and  after  he  had  sought  him  a  day  and  a 
half,  he  found  him  in  a  strong  W'lod :  and  a  soldier,  not  knowing  him, 
gave  him  a  Avound  on  the  head  ;  and  he  cried  out,  that  he  should  not 
kill  him,  saying  that  he  was  the  cacique;  so  he  was  taken,  and  a 
hundred  and  forty  of  his  men  with  him.  The  Governor  came  again 
to  Qu!ij(nitr,  and  willed  him  to  cau-e  his  men   to  come  to  serve  the 


EM'K.inTinX  (,F  IIKUNANDO  UK  .•'OTO. 


17' 


(niristiims  ;  and  staviiiir  snmo  days  fur  (licir  oominir.  aivl  .-I'fliiL' 
tlicy  f'aino  not,  lie  .^cnt  two  captains,  cvory  om^  his  way  <m  hutii 
,^i'lcs  of  t'.io  river  witli  licrsonion  and  fuDtnicn.  I'lu'y  tonk  many  ni  n 
and  women.  Now  se((in^  tlio  hurt  which  they  .sustained  for  thrir 
rebellion,  they  came  to  sec  what  the  Governor  would  eoniniand  them, 
and  pas.-ed  to  and  fro  many  times,  and  brought  presents  of  eloth  and 
fish.  The  caciijue  and  his  two  wives  were  in  the  lod<.Mng  of  the  (.lo- 
vernor  loose,  and  the  halberdiers  of  his  guard  did  keep  them.  The 
Governor  asked  tliem  which  way  the  country  was  most  inhabited'/ 
They  said,  that  toward  thu  .south  down  the  river,  were  great  towns 
and  caci<iucs,  which  commanded  great  countries,  and  much  peoj^lo. 
And  that  toward  the  north-west,  there  was  a  province  near  to  certain 
mountains,  that  was  called  ('nlupn.  The  Governor  and  all  the  rest 
thought  good  to  go  lirst  to  Citllijixi :  saying,  that  peradventure  the 
mountains  would  make  some  difference  of  soil,  and  that  beyond  them 
there  might  bo  some  gold  or  silver.  As  for  Quiijauti.,  ('nst^ni,  and 
Ihrnha,  they  were  plain  countries,  fat  grounds,  and  full  of  go(jd 
meadows  on  the  rivers,  where  the  Indians  sowed  large  fields  of  maize. 
From  Ta>iC(ihira  to  llio  (Unoulc,  or  the  Great  Hiver,  is  about  three 
hundred  leagues  :  it  is  a  very  low  country,  and  hath  many  lakes. 
From  Pariilui  to  (JuHjnu.fr  niay  be  an  hundred  leagues.  The  Go- 
vernor left  the  Caci((ue  of  (Jni^aii/e  in  his  own  town.  And  an  In- 
dian, which  was  his  guide,  led  him  through  great  woods  without  any 
way,  seven  days'  journey  through  a  desert,  where,  at  every  lodging, 
they  lodged  in  lakes  and  pools  in  very  shoal  water;  there  was  such 
store  of  lish,  that  they  killed  them  with  cudgels  j  and  the  Indians 
which  they  carried  in  chains,  with  the  mud  troubled  the  water.s,  and 
the  fish  being  therewith,  as  it  were,  astonished,  came  to  the  top  of  the 
water,  and  they  took  as  much  as  they  listed.  The  Indians  of  Colijoa 
had  no  knowledge  of  the  Christians,  and  when  they  came  so  near  the 
town  that  the  Indians  saw  them,  they  fled  up  a  river  which  passed 
near  the  town,  and  some  leaped  into  it;  but  the  Christians  went  on 
both  sides  of  the  river,  and  took  them.  There  were  many  men  anil 
women  taken,  and  the  caci([uc  with  them.  And  by  his  commandment 
within  three  days  came  many  Indians  with  a  present  of  mantles  and 
deers'  skins,  and  two  ox  hides :  and  they  reported,  that  live  or  six 
leagues  from  thence  toward  the  north,  there  were  many  of  these  oxen, 
and  that  because  the  country  was  cold,  it  was  evil  inhabited  ;  that 
the  best  country  which  they  knew,  the  most  plentiful,  and  most  in- 
habited, was  a  province  called  Cii//<is,  lying  toward  the  south.  From 
13 


ITS 


niSTOIUCAI,  CoM.K.rTIOXS  OF  i.onsi.WA. 


ijihijiiiit'-  to  Co/ii/nii  may  bi'  forty  Iciigucs.  Tliis  town  of  fn/i;/oif 
stood  at  tlu!  foot  of  a  liill,  on  t\\v  Inmk  of  u  liican  river,  of  flic  hii^- 
lU'sa  of  Ciii/ds,  tlio  river  tliat  jjas.sctli  ]iy  Kstrdxtidiiru.  It  was  a  fat 
hoil  and  ,so  piciitifid  of  iiiaizi',  that  tlicy  east  out  tlic  old,  to  lirin;^  in 
the  new.  There  was  also  }j;reat  plenty  of  French  Iteansand  ponipions. 
The  Freiieh  beans  were  greater,  and  better  than  those  of  S/min,  and 
likewise  the  poinpions,  and  being  roasted,  they  have  almost  the 
taste  of  ehestnuts.  The  ("aei(ine  of  r"//'/orf  gave  a  guide  to  ('ni/ifx, 
and  stayed  behind  in  his  own  town.  We  traveled  live  days,  and 
came  to  the  provineo  of  Pullsimn.  The  house  of  the  eaeiqiK!  was 
found  covered  with  <leors'  skins,  of  divers  colors  and  works  drawn  in 
thoni,  and  with  the  same  in  manner  of  carp(^ts  was  the  ground  of  the 
house  covered.  The  caei(iue  left  it  so,  that  the  ( n)vernor  might  lodge  in 
it,  in  token  that  he  s<iuglit  peace  and  his  friendship.  Hut  he  durst  not 
tarry  his  coming.  The  (lovernor,  seeing  he  had  absented  himself, 
sent  a  captain  with  horsemen  and  footmen  to  seek  him.  He  found 
much  people,  but  by  reason  of  the  roughness  of  the  country,  he  took 
none  save  a  few  women  and  children.  The  town  was  little  and  scat- 
tering, and  had  very  little  maize.  For  which  cause  the  (Jovernor 
speedily  departed  from  thence.  Ho  came  to  another  town  called 
'l\tUiH<'<>jm ;  he  carried  with  him  the  ('acique  thereof,  which  guided 
him  to  Ciii/na.  F'roni  Tatulunipi  are  four  days'  Journey  to  Citi/aa. 
"When  ho  came  to  Cayas,  and  saw  the  town  scattered,  he  thought 
they  had  told  him  a  lie,  and  that  it  was  not  the  province  of  Caj/as, 
because  they  had  informed  him  that  it  was  well  inhabited.  He 
threatened  the  cacique,  charging  him  to  tell  him  where  he  was  :  and 
ho  and  other  Indians  which  were  taken  near  about  that  place,  affirmed 
that  this  was  the  town  of  Caj/(ts,  and  the  best  that  was  in  that  coun- 
try, and  that  though  the  houses  were  distant  the  one  from  the  other, 
yet  the  ground  that  was  inhabited  was  great,  and  that  there  was  great 
store  of  people,  and  many  fields  of  maize.  This  town  was  called 
Taiu'co ;  he  pitched  his  camp  in  the  best  part  of  it,  near  unto  a  river. 
The  same  day  that  the  Governor  came  thither,  he  went  a  league  far- 
ther with  certain  horsemen,  :  'vl  without  finding  any  people,  he  found 
many  skins  in  a  pathway,  which  the  cacique  had  left  there,  that  they 
might  be  found,  in  token  of  peace.  For  so  is  the  custom  in  that 
country. 

The  Governor  rested  a  month  in  the  province  of  Cajjas.  In  which 
time  the  horses  fattened  and  thrived  mere,  than  in  other  places  in  a 
longer  time,  with  the  great  plenty  of  maize  and  the  leaves  thereof, 


f 


V,.\l'i;iHTH»\  OF  IlKUNANIXt  UK  SilTU. 


17f' 


whii  Ii  I  tliirik  was  llic  Itcs:.  tliat  liiis  Ijccti  sci'ii,  ami  llicy  ilraiik  nf  a 
lak(>  (if  very  lidt  water,  and  smiifwliat.  bracki.'^li,  aii'I  tlicy  drank  sn 
iiiiK'Ii,  that  it  ,>-wrlI('cl  in  tlicir  Id'Hics  wlu:n  tlity  lunu^rlit  tlitni  fruiii 
tlio  watt  ring.  I'litil  that  tiino  the  ('hii>tiaiis  wantcil  salt,  and  tliorr 
they  iiKulc  good  stnro,  which  they  (arritd  alnn;^'  with  llicin.  The 
Indians  (h)  carry  it  tmither  pkices  Id  exchange  it  fur  skins  and  mantles. 
They  make  it  alung  the  river,  \vhi(di  when  it  eltheth,  leavetli  it  npoii 
the  npper  part  of  the  sand.  And  hecansi;  they  cannot  make  it,  witii- 
(iiit  much  saml  mingleil  with  it,  tiiey  tlirow  it  into  certain  l)ask(!t.- 
which  they  have  fur  that  purpose,  broad  at  tlr.;  mouth  and  narrow  at 
the  bottom,  and  set  it  in  the  air  upon  a  har,  and  thr.iw  water  into  it, 
and  set  a  small  vcs.sol  under  it,  wheri'in  it  falleth:  lleing  strained  and 
set  ti)  l((»il  upon  the  fire,  when  the  water  is  sodden  away,  the  salt 
reniaineth  in  the  bottom  of  thii  pan.  On  both  sides  of  the  river  the 
country  was  full  of  sown  (ields,  and  there  was  store  of  mai/e.  The 
Indians  durst  not  come  over  whero  we  were;  and  when  some  of  them 
showed  themselves,  the  .soldiers  that  saw  them  calleil  unto  them  ;  then 
the  Indians  pa,s,sed  the  river,  and  came  with  them  where  th('  (lovernor 
was.  IFea-Nked  them  for  the  caciijue.  They  said  that  he  remained  (piiet, 
but  that  he  durst  not  show  himsidf.  The  (lovernor  presently  sent 
him  word,  that  he  should  come  unto  him,  and  bring  him  a  guide  and 
an  interpreter  for  ids  journey,  if  he  made  account  of  his  friendship  : 
and  if  he  did  not  so,  he  would  come  him.self  to  seek  him,  and  that,  it 
would  be  the  worse  for  Lim.  lie  waited  three  day.i,  and  seeing  he 
came  not,  he  went  to  seek  him,  and  brought  him  prisoner  with  I'jO  of 
his  men.  He  asked  him,  whether  he  had  notice  of  any  great  caci(jue, 
and  which  way  the  country  was  best  inhabited.  lie  answered,  th<at 
the  best  country  thereabout  was  a  province  toward  the  south,  a  day 
and  a  halfs  journey,  which  was  called  Titlln;  and  that  he  could  give 
him  a  guide,  but  no  interpreter,  because  the  speech  of  that  country 
was  different  from  his,  and  because  he  and  his  ancestors  had  always 
wars  with  the  lords  of  that  province  ;  therefore  they  had  no  commerce, 
nor  understood  one  another's  language.  Immediately  the  (iovcrnor 
with  certain  horsemen,  and  fifty  footmen,  departed  towards  Tidla,  to 
see  if  the  country  were  such,  as  he  might  pass  through  it  with  all  his 
company  :  ami  as  soon  as  he  arrived  there,  and  was  espied  of  the 
Indians,  the  country  gathered  together,  and  as  soon  as  fifteen  and  twenty 
Indians  could  assemble  themselves,  they  set  upon  the  Christians  :  and 
seeing  that  they  did  handle  them  shrewdly,  and  that  the  horsemen 
overtook  them  when  they  fled,  they  got  up  into  the  tops  of  their  hou-ses, 


'm 

n 


180 


HISTOUICAr,  rOLLF.CTIONS  OF  I-OUISJANA. 


;ind  sought  to  defiud  thcmsolvoa  with  tliiir  arrows:  iuid  Leiiig  liouton 
down  from  one,  they  got  up  upon  anotlier.  And  while  our  men  jiur- 
sucd  some,  otliers  set  upon  tliera  another  way.  Thus  the  Nkivniisli 
Listed  so  louj^,  thiit  the  horses  were  tired,  and  they  couM  not  make 
them  run.  The  Indians  killed  there  one  horse,  and  some  were  hurt. 
There  were  iifteen  Indians  shiin  there,  and  forty  women  and  boys  were 
taken  prisoners.  For  whatsoever  Indian  did  shoot  at  them,  if  they 
i.'OuM  eomo  hy  him,  tliey  put  liim  to  the  sword.  The  futvernor 
determined  to  return  toward  C<i//as,  before  the  Indians  had  time  to 
gather  a  head;  and  presently  that  evening,  going  part  of  the  night  to 
leave  Tiilhi,  he  lodged  by  the  way,  and  the  next  day  came  to  Caj/ds: 
and  within  three  days  after  he  departed  thence  towards  7V/AMvith  all 
his  company.  lie  carried  the  caci(|uc  along  with  him,  and  among  all 
his  men,  there  was  not  one  found  that  could  understand  the  speech  of 
Tut/a.  He  stayed  three  days  by  the  way,  and  the  day  that  he  came 
thither,  he  found  the  town  abandoned  :  for  the  Indians  durst  not  tarry 
his  coming.  But  as  soon  as  they  knew  that  the  Ciovernor  was  in 
Titlhi,  the  first  night  about  the  morning  watch,  they  came  in  two 
S(juadrons  two  several  ways,  with  their  bows  ^nd  arrows,  and  long 
staves  like  pikes.  As  soon  as  they  were  descried,  both  horse  and  foot 
sallied  out  upon  thom,  where  many  of  the  Indians  were  slain;  and 
some  Christians  and  horses  were  hurt.  Some  of  the  Indians  were 
taken  prisoners,  whereof  the  Governor  sent  six  to  the  cacicjue,  with 
their  right  hands  and  noses  cut  off:  and  sent  him  word,  that  if  he 
came  not  to  him  to  excuse  and  submit  himself,  that  he  would  come  to 
seek  him,  and  that  he  would  do  the  like  to  him,  and  as  many  of  his 
as  ho  could  find,  as  he  had  done  to  those  which  he  had  sent  him  :  and 
gave  him  three  days'  respite  for  to  come.  And  this  he  gave  them  to 
understand  by  signs,  as  well  as  he  could,  for  there  was  no  interpreter. 
At  the  three  days'  end,  there  came  an  Indian  laden  with  ox  hides, 
lie  came  weeping  with  great  sobs,  and  coming  to  the  Governor  cast 
himself  down  at  his  feet.  He  took  him  up,  and  he  made  a  speech,  but 
there  was  none  that  understood  him.  The  Governor  by  signs  com- 
manded him  to  return  to  the  cacique,  and  to  will  him  to  send  him  an 
interpreter,  which  could  understand  the  men  of  Cai/as.  The  next 
day  came  three  Indians  laden  with  ox  hides  :  and  within  three  days 
after  came  20  Indians,  and  among  them  one  that  understood  them  of 
Cni/as;  who,  after  a  long  oration  of  excuses  of  the  cacique,  and  praises 
of  the  Governor,  concluded  with  this,  that  he  and  the  other  were  come 
thither  on  the  cacique's  behalf,  to  see  what  his  lordship  would  com- 


KXI'EKITroN  (IF  HERNANDO  1)E  SOTO. 


181 


irmnd  liiiu  to  do,  for  ho  was  rcaily  at  his  conitiianilimnt.  The  Govornor 
atul  all  hl.s  loiupaiiy  wore  vi'vy  glad.  Fur  in  nnwi.-i'  t-duld  they  travel 
without  ail  intirinvtor.  The  (jovonior  commanded  him  to  ho  kept 
safe,  and  bade  liim  toll  tlio  men  that  camo  with  him,  that  thoy  should 
return  to  the  caci(|Uo,  and  signify  unto  him,  tliat  ho  panlonod  him  for 
that  which  was  past,  and  thanked  him  mueh  for  his  jirosoiits  ami 
interpreter,  which  he  had  sent  him,  and  that  ho  would  be  glail  to  set 
liim,  and  that  he  should  come  the  ne.xt  day  to  talk  with  him.  After 
throe  day.s,  the  cacitjue  came,  and  eighty  Indians  with  him ;  and  himselt 
and  his  men  eamo  weeping  into  the  cump,  in  token  of  obodioneo  and 
repontaneo  for  the  error  passed,  after  the  manner  of  that  country. 
Ho  brought  a  present  of  many  ox  hides:  which,  because  the  country 
was  cold,  were  very  prolitaljlo,  and  served  for  coverlets,  Ijocauso  they 
were  very  soft,  and  woolod  lilrc  sheep.  Xot  far  from  thence  toward 
the  north  were  many  oxen.  The  Christians  saw  them  not,  nor  eaiiu 
Into  thecountry  where  they  wore,  because  those  parts  were  evil  inhabited, 
and  had  small  store  of  maixo  where  thoy  were  bred.  The  ('aci(jue  of 
TiiJla  made  an  oration  to  the  (iovernor,  wheivin  he  excused  himself,  and 
offered  hiia  his  countr}',  subjects,  and  person.  As  well  this  caci(|Ui 
a.s  the  others,  and  all  those  which  cai.ic  to  the  (iovernur  on  their 
behalf,  delivered  their  message  or  speech  in  so  good  order,  that  no 
orator  could  utter  the  same  more  olo(iuently. 

The  Covernor  informed  himself  of  all  the  country  rouml  about ;  and 
understood,  that  toward  the  .vest  wa.s  a  scalterod  dwelling,  and  that 
toward  the  .southeast  were  great  towns,  espociall}-  in  a  province  called 
Autiamquc,  ten  days'  journey  from  Tidln  ;  which  might  be  about  eighty 
leagues  ;  and  that  it  was  a  plentiful  countrv  of  maize.  And  because 
winter  came  on,  and  that  they  could  no'  ;r:cl  two  or  three  month.- 
in  the  year  for  cold,  waters,  and  snow  :  and  '•,  uriiig,  that  if  thoy  should 
btay  so  long  in  the  scattered  dwelling,  they  could  not  be  sustained  ; 
and  also  because  the  Indians  .said,  that  near  to  AKtiamijitc  was  a  great 
water,  and  according  to  their  relation,  the  (Iovernor  thought  it  wa.*^ 
some  arm  of  the  .'Joa:  and  because  he  now  desired  to  send  news  of 
himself  to  Cuba,  that  some  supply  of  men  and  horses  might  bo  sent 
unto  him  (for  it  was  about  three  years  since  Dniunt  JmiJulId,  which 
was  in  Jlxtana,  or  any  other  person  in  Chrij-teiidom  harl  heard  of  him, 
and  by  this  time  he  had  lost  2o0  men,  and  150  hor.sos),  he  determined 
to  winter  in  AiitHimtjin ,  and  the  next  spring  to  go  to  the  sea  coast  and 
nr.iko  two  briguntines,  and  send  one  of  them  to  Cuba,  and  the  other 
to  Xuxra  JJ^jmnntt,  that  that  w))ich  went  in  safety,  might  give  news 


•  I 


1:1 


M  '<i 


Ps 


182 


HISTOIIICAL  COLLECTIONS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


of  him  :  hoping  with  (ho  goixls  whidi  lio  hml  in  Ciiha,  to  fiirni.«li  him- 
Hclf  ii;,'aiii,  and  to  attempt  the  iliscovcry  and  confincst  toward  the  west: 
for  lio  had  not  yet  conio  where  Cultini  (h  IW'vt  had  Ijeen.  'I'hus 
having  sent  away  the  two  eaei(|nes  of  Chi/iik  and  Tiilfa,  lie  took  iiis 
jonrney  toward  Ant!(i)u<iiir :  he  traveled  live  days  over  rough  moun- 
tains, and  came  to  a  town  caUeil  (Jnijuimi,  where  no  Indians  tonUl  be 
taken  for  the  roughness  of  the  country  :  and  the  town  lieing  Itetweon 
hills,  there  was  an  amhush  laid,  whi'rewith  they  took  two  Indians; 
which  told  them,  that  Aiitimuijitr  was  six  days'  journey  from  thence, 
an<l  that  there  was  another  province  toward  the  south,  eight  days' 
journey  off,  plentiful  (»f  maize,  and  very  well  peopled,  which  was  called 
(I'udhiiti ,  Hut  because  Aiifi(n)i(/uc  was  nearer,  and  the  most  of  the 
Indians  agreed  of  it,  the  (Jovernor  made  his  journey  that  way.  In 
three  days  he  came  to  a  town  called  Ait'iixi.  Jle  sent  a  captain  ])eforo 
with  thirty  horsemen  and  fifty  footmen,  and  took  the  Indians  careless; 
he  took  many  men  and  women  prisoners.  Within  two  days  after  the 
(Jovernor  came  to  another  town  called  Cnhnnoi/d,  and  lodged  in  the 
fields  of  the  town.  Two  Indians  came  with  a  false  message  from  the 
cacii|ue  to  know  his  determination,  lie  liade  them  tell  their  lord,  that 
he  should  come  and  speak  with  him.  The  Indians  returned  and  came 
no  more,  nor  any  other  message  from  the  cacique.  The  next  day  the 
Christians  went  to  the  town,  which  was  without  people  :  they  took  as 
much  maize  as  they  needed.  That  day  they  kidge(l  in  a  wood,  and 
the  next  day  they  came  to  Anfidnujitf.  They  found  nmch  maize  laid 
up  in  store,  and  French  beans,  and  walnuts,  and  prunes,  great  store 
of  all  sorts.  They  took  some  Indians  which  were  gathering  together 
the  stuff  which  their  wives  had  hidden.  This  was  a  champaign  country, 
and  well  inhabited.  The  Governor  lodged  in  the  best  part  of  the 
town,  and  commanded  presently  to  make  a  fence  of  timber  round  about 
the  camp  distant  from  the  houses,  that  the  Indians  might  not  hurt 
them  without  by  lire.  ^Vnd  measuring  tlie  ground  by  paces,  he 
appointed  every  one  his  part  to  do  according  to  the  number  of  Indians 
which  he  had :  presently  the  timber  Avas  brought  by  them ;  and  in 
three  days  there  was  an  inclosure  made  of  very  high  and  thick  posts 
thrust  into  the  ground,  and  many  rails  laid  across.  Hard  by  this 
town  passed  a  river,  that  came  out  of  the  province  of  C<i//a>^ ;  and 
above  and  beneath  it  was  very  well  peopled.  Thither  came  Indians 
on  the  cacique's  behalf  with  a  present  of  mantles  and  skins;  and  an 
halting  cacique,  subject  to  the  lord  of  Autktnujur,  lord  of  a  town  called 
Tictu^itaijuo,  came  many  times  to  visit  the  Governor,  and  to  bring  him 


1 

] 


KXI'FIIITION  OF  HF.UNANItn  UK  SOTO. 


183 


; 


presents  (if  sui'li  as  lie  had.  Tlic  ('iici(|iii'  of  AnfinDn/ur  sent  to  know 
of  tlic  (luvcriKir,  linw  Idiii,'  liini"  he  nuaiif  fu  st.iy  in  Iiis  ciiuntry  ' 
AihI  unihirstandiiij;  that  he  nn'ant  to  stay  uhout  thri-f  ihiys,  ho  never 
eonl  any  more  Iinlians,  nor  any  otlicr  nii'ssa;.'e,  hut  eonsphi'd  witli  the 
lunic  eaei«(iu'  to  nliel.  I>ivers  inmads  were  nia(h',  whiTiin  tlicn- were 
many  lueu  and  woinrn  taken,  and  the  hinie  (aci<|Me  anionic  the  rest. 
The  Ciovornor  respectinj^  the  serviecs  whir!;  he  had  reeeivtid  of  him, 
reiiri'hon(h'il  and  admonished  him,  and  set  him  at  liherfy,  and  t'ave 
him  two  Inilians  to  earry  him  in  a  ehair  upon  their  shonliiers.  The 
('aci(|ne  ii{ An/iiniiijiu  i\vs\r\u'/.  to  thrust  the* iovernormit  ot  hiseounlry, 
net  spies  over  him.  And  an  Indian  eomiiiLr  'me  ni^ht  to  the  <rate  of 
the  iiiehisure,  u  soldier  that  watclied  espied  liim,  and  stepping;  liehind 
the  }.'at<\  as  ho  eamo  in,  he  j.'avo  liim  such  a  thrust,  tliat  he  fell  down; 
and  so  he  carried  him  to  the  (rovenior:  and  as  he  asked  him  where- 
fore he  came,  not  In-in^  alio  to  speak,  he  fell  down  deail.  The  ni^dit 
followini^  the  (Jovernor  commanded  a  soldier  to  give  tho  alarm,  and 
to  say  that  he  hail  seen  Indians,  to  see  how  ready  they  would  he  to 
answer  tiie  alarm.  And  ho  did  .so  sonu'timos  as  well  there,  as  in  other 
places,  when  he  thou;.dit  that  his  nu'u  were  careless,  and  reprehendeil 
eueh  as  were  slack.  And  as  well  for  this  cause,  as  in  reganl  of  doiiiir 
their  duty,  when  the  alarm  was  friven,  every  one  souL'ht  to  he  the 
first  that  should  answer.  They  staid  in  A  iifianiifii  three  months,  with 
great  plenty  of  maize,  French  hoans,  walnuts,  prunes,  and  conie's: 
which  until  that  tinu;  they  knew  not  how  to  catch.  And  in  Aiiiiiuin/ii' 
tho  Indi.ins  tautdit  them  how  to  take  tlu'm  ;  which  was,  with  great 
spring's,  which  lifted  up  their  fi.'ct  from  tho  irruiind :  and  tho  snare 
was  made  with  a  strong  string,  whereunto  was  fastened  a  knot  uf 
a  cane,  which  run  clo.so  about  tho  nock  of  the  cony,  l)ccauso  they 
should  not  gnaw  tho  stiing.  They  took  many  in  tho  fields  of  mai/.e, 
cspc' lally  when  it  froze  or  snowed.  The  Christains  stayed  there  one 
wl'.ole  month  so  inclosed  with  snow,  that  they  went  not  out  of  the 
town:  and  when  they  wanted  firewood,  the  (lovernor  with  his  horse- 
nieu  going  anil  coming  many  times  to  tho  wood,  whiidi  was  two  cross- 
bow shots  from  tho  town,  made  a  pathway,  whereby  the  footnu'ii  wi'ut 
for  wood.  In  this  mean  space,  some  Indians  which  went  lunse,  killed 
many  conies  with  their  gyvo.s,  and  with  arrows.  These  conies  were 
of  two  sorts,  some  Avero  like  tho.<c  of  Sjidin,  and  the  other  of  the 
same  color  and  fashion,  and  as  big  as  great  hares,  longer,  and  having 
greater  loins. 

Upon  Monday  tho  tlth  of  March,  ]r)4ll,  tho  (Jovernor  departed  from 


■i 


hi 


iiFsmnirAr,  com.kctions  of  LuirsiAXA. 


Aiiti'iinvjiii  til  si'ck  ^>'!l'i>,  uliirli  tlic  Iinliaii.~i  siiiil  wa.M  near  the  grcfit 


liver,  \vitli  ili'tcrniitiatiiiu  to  cmiut  to  tlic  mh,  ami 


profurc  Hoiiu;  MUcc-nr 


ol'  nun  aiiil  hni'.si's;  for  lie  had  now  but  three  hiintlriil  nun  of  war. 
a'.ul  flirty  liurscs,  aiul  smiu'  of  \\\v\n  lanu>,  \vhii'li  tliil  notliin;,'  liut  lu'jj 
t)  make  mi  tlu'  nmulur;  ami  fur  want  of  Irmi  t!u'y  hail  frune  aliuve  u 
yrar  un>-hnil;  ami  bccau.-to  they  were  useil  to  it  in  the  plain  euuntry. 
it  iliil  thorn  ni)  yreat  harm.  Jnhn  Ortiz  dieil  in  Antiaiinjitr,  which 
grieved  the  (iovermir  very  nnuh;  heeause  that  withnut  an  interpreter 
lie  feared  to  enter  far  into  the  land,  where  he  ini;j;ht  he  lost.  I'roiu 
iheiu'efnrward  a  youth  that  was  talcen  in    ('nlifin hnin!  did  .«erve   for 


interiireter,  which  had  l>y  that  tinu'  learned  Konjewhat  of  tliu  Chris- 
tians' language.  The  death  of  Julm  Ortiz  was  so  great  a  niiseiilef 
fur  the  discovering  inward,  or  going  out  of  tlu;  land,  that  to  l"arn  of 
the  Indians,  tliat  wliieli  in  f>ur  words  he  ileelarul,  they  needed  u 
whole  d;iy  with  the  youth;  and  nuist  eonmumly  he  uiuh'rstond  (juitc 
contrary  that  which  was  ashed  hini;  wherehy  it  often  hajiiicned  that 
the  way  that  tlu'y  went  one  day,  and  sonietiiae.-i  two  or  three  days, 
they  turned  back,  and  went  astray  through  the  wood  here  and  there. 
Tlu;  (Jovernor  spent  ten  days  in  traveling  from  Aiiti<inii^ii<  to  a  pro- 
vince called  Ai/iij/a;  and  came  to  a  town  that  stood  near  the  river 
that  passeth  by  ('m/ns  ;.ni!  Aiitid/ih^U' .  There  he  coiiiinandeJ  t. 
bargo  to  bo  made,  wherewith  he  passed  the  river.  ^Vhen  he  had 
passed  the  river  there  fell  out  such  weather,  that  four  days  ho  could 
nut  travel  for  snow.  As  soon  as  it  gave  over  snowing,  he  went  three 
days'  journey  through  u  wilderness,  and  a  country  so  luw,  and  so  full 
of  lakes  and  evil  ways,  that  he  traveled  a  whole  day  in  water,  sojue- 
tiuu's  knee  deep,  sonietinu's  to  the  stirrup,  and  sniuetinu^s  they  swam. 
IFe  came  to  a  town  called  Tnti  fjiinco,  abanduned,  and  without  maize. 
There  passed  by  it  a  lake,  that  entered  into  the  river,  which  canied  ti 
great  stream  and  force  of  water.  Five  CJhristians  passing  over  it  in  a 
periagua,  which  the  (.lovernnr  had  .sent  with  a  captain,  the  jx'riagua 
overset.  Some  took  hold  on  it,  .some  on  the  trees  that  were  in  the 
lake.  One  Fninria  SLiasfi('n,i\n  honest  man  of  VH/k  nnra  (/<■  IJarrit 
liof(i,vf^H  drowned  there.  The  (ioveruor  went  a  whole  day  along  the 
lake,  seeking  passage,  and  could  iiud  uoiu^,  nor  any  way  tliat  did  pas.s 
to  the  other  .side.  Coming  again  at  night  to  the  town  he  found  two 
peaceable  Indians,  which  showed  him  the  passage,  and  which  way  he 
was  to  go.  There  they  made  of  canes  and  of  the  timber  of  houses 
thatched  with  cane,  rafts,  wherewith  they  passed  the  lake.  They 
traveled  three  days,  and  came  to  a  towu  of  the  territory  of  AT/co. 


I 


» 


KXI'F.r>niiiN  OF  ItKnXANIlO  PF,  SOTO. 


1H5 


oiillril  Tiiintn.  TliiTt'  tlii-y  took  thirty  Imliiiiis,  niid  iiTiioii;;  lli 'in  twi.> 
priii(i|ial  nun  nf  this  town.  Tlie  (.InviTnur  sunt  ti  cajit.iin,  widi  linrso- 
ini'ii  anil  riMitiiirii,  lufori'  to  AV/cn,  Wcauso  tlu'  fmliaus  nii;_'!it  liavi-n" 
tinii!  til  carry  away  tlu'  imivisinn.  'I'ljty  i>a.s.>»L'(l  tlirnn;.'li  tliriT  nr  t'nui 
great  towns;  iiiiil  in  tlu'  town  whore  theeaeiijue  wasrcsiiK'nt,  whirli  \\\\> 
two  leagues  from  the  place  where  the  CJovernor  reniaiiuil,  tin  y  loiui'! 
many  Imlians  with  their  hows  ami  arrows,  in  manni  r  as  tlioii^h  tlu-y 
WouM  have  stayed  to  lij/ht,  which  iliil  eom{'a.>-s  the  town;  ami  as  .-oou 
as  tlicy  saw  the  ('hri>lians  come  near  tlu'm,  without  ini-iloiihting 
them,  they  set  tlie  eaciijue's  house  on  lire,  and  fleil  over  ii  lake  that 
passed  near  the  town,  through  which  the  horses  could  not  pass.  Tin 
next  day  lieing  Wednesday,  the  -0th  of  Marcii,  tin-  (io\(iiiir  lanie 
to  Xi/rn ;  he  loiiged  with  all  his  men  in  the  caeiiiue'jt  town,  which 
stood  in  a  plain  lii'ld,  wliieli  was  iniiahifi  d  fir  the  space  of  a  <|uarter 
of  a  league:  and  witiiiu  a  league  and  half  a  league  were  otlier  very 
great  towns,  wdiereiu  was  great  store  <if  maize,  of  Fn  in  li  luaiis,  of 
walnuts,  and  prunes.  Tliis  was  the  lot  iniiahiteJ  couiitiy  that  was 
seen  in  F/nriifiiy  and  had  most  store  of  maize,  except  ('md  and  Ajxt- 
hvlii\  There  eaiiui  to  the  camp  an  Indian  accompanied  witii  oihirs, 
and  in  the  cacifpie's  name  gave  the  (lovernor  a  m;inlle  of  martens' 
skins,  and  a  cordon  of  pearls.  The  (lovernor  gave  iiim  a  few  small 
margarites,  which  are  certain  beads  much  esteem.'d  in  I'lrn,  and  otliei 
things,  whcrewitii  he  was  very  well  contented.  \\v.  promised  to  re- 
turn within  two  days,  hut  never  came  again:  but  on  t!u!  {•oiitrary  tiii. 
Indians  came  by  night  in  eaiioes,  and  carried  away  all  the  maize  they 
could,  and  made  them  cabins  on  the  other  side  oC  the  river  in  tin 
thickest  of  the  wood,  becanse  they  might  fhe  if  we  should  go  to  seek 
them.  The  (ioveriior,  seeing  ho  came  not  at  li  time  ajipointed,  com- 
manded an  ambush  to  be  laid  about  certain  .'■tore-houses  near  the 
hike,  w lli t her  the  Indians  came  for  maize:  where  they  took  two  In- 
dians, who  told  the  (Jovernor,  that  he  which  came  to  visit  him,  was 
not  tho  cacique,  but  was  .sent  by  him  under  pretence  to  .-py  whether 
the  Christians  were  caroles.^i,  and  wdicthcr  they  determined  to  settle 
in  that  country  or  to  go  forward.  Presently  the  ( lovernor  sent  a  eajtf  aiu 
with  footmen  and  horsemen  over  the  river;  and  in  their  pa^^age  tliey 
were  descried  of  the  Indians,  and  therefore  ho  could  take  but  ten  or 
twelve  men  and  women,  with  whom  he  returned  to  the  camp.  Tiiis 
river,  which  pa.ssed  by  Xilro,  was  that  which  passed  by  Ctii/n.f  and 


Atit 


unit'fir^  an 


d  fell  into  Ju'o    ilnindi ,  or  tho  (Jreut  lliver,  which 


passed  hy  Pmltitlui  and  J'jiii.ro  near  unto  the  province  of  iliKichniju. 
and  the  lord  thereof  came  up  tho  river  in  oauocs  to  make  war  witi 


ill 

k 


IV ;  \ 


I 


t!l1 


18G 


niSTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


I'.im  of  Kilo.  On  his  behalf  there  came  an  Indian  to  the  Governor 
and  sai<l  unto  him,  that  he  was  his  servant,  and  prayed  him  so  to 
liold  him,  and  that  within  two  days  he  would  come  to  kiss  his  lord- 
ship's hands:  and  at  the  time  appointed  he  came  with  some  of  his 
principal  Indians,  which  accompanied  him,  and  with  words  of  grout 
offers  and  courtesy  lie  gave  the  Covcrnor  a  present  of  many  maniles 
and  deers'  skins.  The  CJovernor  gave  him  some  otiier  things  in  re- 
compense, and  honored  him  much.  lie  asked  him  what  towns  .  jre 
were  down  tlie  rivers  He  answered  tliat  he  knew  none  other  br.t  his 
own  :  and  on  the  otlier  side  of  the  river  the  province  of  a  cacique  called 
Quiijdlfa.  So  he  took  liis  leave  of  the  Governor  and  went  to  his  own 
town.  Widiin  a  few  days  the  Governor  determined  to  go  to  (liinrlunjn, 
to  learn  there  whether  the  sea  were  near,  or  whether  there  Averc  any 
habitation  near,  where  he  might  relieve  his  company,  while  the 
brigantines  were  making,  which  lie  meant  to  send  to  the  land  of  the 
(,'hristians.  As  he  passed  the  river  of  Xilcn,  there  came  in  canoes 
Indians  of  Giuti-hoj/a  up  the  stream,  and  wlien  they  saw  him,  >up- 
posing  that  he  came  to  seek  them  to  do  them  some  hurt,  they  re- 
turned down  (he  river,  and  informed  tlie  caci(iue  thereof:  who  with 
all  his  people,  spoiling  the  town  of  all  that  they  couk  carry  away, 
passed  that  night  over  to  the  otlier  side  of  the  Ri'i  G'  nidc,  or  the 
Great  River.  The  Governor  sent  a  captain  with  iifty  nen  in  six 
canoes  down  the  river,  and  went  himself  by  land  with  tl  rest :  he 
eame  to  (luacJtoj/a  upon  Sunday,  the  ITth  of  April:  e  lodged 
in  the  town  of  the  cacique,  which  was  enclosed  about,  an  seated  a 
•crossbow  shot  distant  from  the  river.  Here  the  river  is  ca  A  Tama- 
lixrif.  and  in  AVAr?  Tupatu,  and  in  (Mi;a  Jlico,  and  in  e  port  or 
mouth  III. 

As  soon  as  the  Governor  came  to  (I'liarhoj/n^  he  sent  J(ii,,i  lanxM'o 
with  as  many  men  as  could  go  in  the  canoes  up  the  river.  For  when 
they  came  down  from  A7Ay>,  they  saw  on  the  other  side  of  the  river 
!iew  cabins  made.  Ju/di  Danusco  went  and  brought  tlie  canoes  laden 
with  maize,  rrench  beans,  prunes,  and  many  loaves  made  of  the  sub- 
stance of  prunes.  That  day  came  an  Indian  to  the  Governor  from 
the  Cacique  of  Guaclioija,  and  said  that  his  lord  would  come  the  next 
day.  They  next  day  they  saw  numy  canoes  come  up  the  river,  and 
on  the  other  side  of  the  Great  Kivor  they  assembled  together  in  the 
space  of  an  hour:  they  consulted  whether  they  should  come  or  not; 
and  at  lenath  concluded  to  come,  and  crossed  the  river.  In  them 
//ame  the  Cacique  of  Guavlioya,  and  brought  with  him  many  Indians, 
with  great  store  of  lisb,  dogs,  deers'  skins,  and  mantles  :  and  as  soon  as 


EXPEDITION  OF  HERNANDO  DE  SOTO, 


187 


t'.'ey  laiiilod,  thoy  went  to  the  lodjrin;:  of  the  rJovernor,  ami  presented 
him  their  gifts,  and  th(^  oaci(iuo  uttered  these  words  : — 

"  Mighty  and  cxeellent  lord,  I  beseech  your  lordship  to  pardon  mc 
the  error  which  I  committed  in  absenting  myself,  and  not  tarrying  in 
this  town  to  have  received  and  served  your  lordship;  since,  to  obtain 
this  opportunity  of  time,  was,  and  is  as  much  as  a  great  victory  tome. 
But  I  feared  that  which  I  needed  not  to  have  feared,  and  so  did  that 
which  was  not  reason  to  do.  But  as  haste  maketh  waste,  and  I  re- 
moved without  deliberation;  so,  as  soon  as  I  thought  on  it,  I  deter- 
mined not  to  follow  the  opinion  of  the  foolish,  which  is  to  continue  in 
their  error;  but  to  imitate  the  wise  and  discreet,  in  changing  my  coun- 
sel, and  so  I  came  to  see  what  your  lordship  will  command  me  to  do, 
that  I  may  servo  you  in  all  things  that  are  in  my  power." 

The  Governor  received  him  with  much  joy,  and  gave  him  thanks 
for  his  present  and  offer.  lie  asked  him,  whether  he  had  any  notice 
of  the  sea.  He  answered  no,  nor  of  any  towns  down  the  river  on 
that  side;  save  that  two  leagues  from  thence  was  one  town  of  a  prin- 
cipal Indian,  a  subject  of  his;  and  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  three 
days'  journey  from  thence  down  the  river,  was  the  province  of  ^,>h/- 
ijaltd,  which  was  the  greatest  lord  that  was  in  that  country!  The 
Governor  thought  that  the  caci((ue  lied  unto  him,  to  rid  him  out  of 
his  own  towns,  and  sent  John  J)anH!<co  witli  eight  horsemen  down  the 
river,  to  see  what  habitation  there  was,  and  to  inform  himself,  if  there 
were  any  notice  of  the  sea.  lie  traveled  eight  days,  and  at  his  re- 
turn ho  said,  that  in  all  that  time  he  was  not  able  to  go  above  fourteen 
or  fifteen  leagues,  because  of  the  great  creeks  that  came  out  of  the 
river,  and  groves  of  canes,  and  thick  woods  that  were  along  the  banks 
of  the  river,  and  that  he  had  found  no  habitation.  The  Governor 
fell  into  great  dumps  to  see  how  hard  it  was  to  get  to  tlie  sea;  and 
worse,  because  his  men  and  horses  every  day  diminished,  beiiiL;'  with- 
out succor  to  sustain  themselves  in  the  country :  and  with  that  tiiought 
he  fell  .sick.  But  before  he  took  his  bed  he  sent  an  Indian  t(j  the 
Cacique  of  Qin'^a/fit  to  tell  him,  that  he  was  the  child  of  tlie  sun,  and 
that  all  the  way  tliat  he  came  all  men  obeyed  and  served  him,  that 
he  re<]uested  him  to  accept  of  his  friendship,  and  come  unto  him ;  for 
he  would  be  very  glad  to  see  him;  and  in  sign  of  love  and  obedience 
to  bring  something  with  him  of  that  which  in  his  country  was  most 
esteemed.     The  cacique  answered  by  the  same  Indian : 

"  That  whereas  he  said  he  was  the  child  of  the  sun,  if  he  would 
dry  up  the  river  hi;  would  belii.'ve  him :  ami  touching  the  rest,  that  ho 


11 


III 


111  I  i 


■  li ; 


18S 


IIISTOmCAL  COLLECTIOXS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


wa.s  wont  to  visit  none;  but  rather  that  all  those  of  whom  he  hud 
uotiee  did  visit  hiiu,  served,  obeyed,  and  paid  him  tributes  willingl}- 
or  perforce  :  therefore,  if  he  desired  to  sec  hiui,  it  were  best  he  should 
come  tliither:  that  if  he  came  in  peace,  ho  would  receive  him  with 
special  good  will;  and  if  in  war,  in  like  maimer  he  would  attend  him 
in  the  town  where  he  was,  and  that  for  him  or  any  other  he  would 
not  shrink  one  foot  back. 

By  that  time  the  Indian  returned  with  this  answer,  the  Governor 
had  betaken  himself  to  bed,  being  evil  handled  with  fevers,  and  was 
much  aggrieved  that  he  was  not  in  case  to  pass  presently  the  river 
and  to  seek  him,  to  see  if  he  could  abate  that  pride  of  his,  consider- 
ing the  river  went  now  very  strongly  in  those  parts ;  for  it  was  near 
half  a  league  broad,  and  sixteen  fathoms  deep,  and  very  furious,  and 
ran  with  a  great  current;  and  on  both  sides  there  were  many  Indians, 
and  his  power  was  not  now  so  great,  but  that  he  had  need  to  help 
himself  rather  by  slights  tlian  by  force.  The  Indians  of  O'liarlioi/a 
came  everj'  day  with  lisli  in  such  numbers,  that  the  town  was  full  of 
them.  The  cacique  said,  that  on  a  certain  night  he  of  (^niijaJta 
would  come  to  give  battle  to  the  Governor.  "Which  the  Governor 
imagined  that  he  had  devised,  to  drive  him  out  of  his  country,  and 
commanded  him  to  be  put  in  hold:  and  that  night  and  all  the  rest, 
there  was  good  watch  kept.  He  asked  him  wherefore  Qaiijulta  came 
not  ?  lie  said  that  he  came,  but  that  he  saw  him  prepared,  and 
therefore  durst  not  give  the  attempt:  and  he  was  earnest  with  him  to 
send  his  captains  over  the  river,  and  that  he  would  aid  him  with  many 
men  to  set  upon  <Jiiiijaha.  The  (Jovernor  told  him  that  as  soon  as 
he  was  recovered,  himself  would  seek  him  out.  And  seeing  how 
Tuany  Indians  came  daily  to  the  town,  and  what  store  of  people  was 
in  that  country,  fearing  they  should  all  conspire  together  and  plot 
some  treason  against  him ;  and  because  the  town  had  some  open  gaps 
which  were  not  made  an  end  of  inclosing,  besides  the  gates  which  they 
went  in  and  out  by :  bt:cause  the  Indians  should  not  think  he  feared 
them,  he  let  them  all  aluno  unrepaired;  and  commanded  the  horse- 
men to  be  appointed  to  them,  and  to  the  gates :  and  all  night  the 
horsemen  went  the  round  ;  and  two  ami  two  of  every  squadron  rode 
abriut,  and  visited  the  scouts  that  were  without  the  town  in  their  stand- 
ings by  the  passages,  and  the  cros.sbowmen  that  kept  the  canoes  in 
the  ri\er.  And  because  the  Indians  should  stand  in  f.'ar  of  them,  he 
determined  to  send  a  captain  to  Nlki),  for  those  of  (/iiaclmi/it  had 
told  him  that  it  was  inhabited;  that  by  using  tliem  cruelly,  neither 


EXPEDITION'  OF  IIERNANno  1>E  SOTO. 


1>!) 


tlie  onu  mir  the  other  should  prosiime  to  assail  him  ;  anil  he  .-cut 
^dui:.  ilr  T'liiiir  \i\\\\  \iiw\\\  horsojuon,  and  J<ilui  il  (lir.miin  cap- 
tain i)f  the  f'/utmcn,  with  his  cniiipany  in  canoes  up  the  riviT.  The 
Cacitjue  of  Unuilnnja  sent  fur  many  canoes  and  many  wavlike  hwlian^ 
to  gu  with  the  Christians  :  and  the  ca])tain  of  the  Christians,  (■alle<l 
Ntiiii'::  ili:  Toimr  went  hy  land  with  his  horsemen,  and  two  leatrucs 
before  he  came  tn  Xllc"  he  stayed  for  John  dc  (Iniinmi,  a)id  in  that 
place  the}-  passed  the  river  by  night :  the  horsenn'n  came  first,  and  ia 
the  morning  by  break  of  day  in  sight  of  the  town  they  lighted  upon  a 
spy;  which  as  soon  as  he  perceived  the  Christians,  crying  out  amain 
(led  to  the  town  to  give  warning.  Xit?ii:;  Ju  Tmtar  and  his  com- 
pany made  such  speed,  that  before  the  Indians  of  the  town  could  fully 
come  out,  they  were  upon  them :  it  was  champaign  ground  that  was 
inhabited,  which  was  about  a  fjuarter  of  a  league.  I'here  were  about 
five  or  six  thousand  people  in  the  town  :  and,  as  many  people  came 
out  of  the  houses,  and  fled  from  one  house  to  another,  and  many  In- 
dians came  flocking  together  from  all  parts,  there  was  never  a  horse- 
man that  was  not  alone  among  many.  The  captain  had  commanded 
that  they  should  not  spare  the  life  of  any  male.  Their  disorder  was 
so  great,  that  there  was  no  Indian  that  shot  an  arrow  at  any  Christian. 
The  shrieks  of  women  and  children  were  so  great,  that  they  made  the 
ears  deaf  of  those  that  followed  them.  There  were  .slain  a  hundred 
Indian.s,  little  more  or  less :  and  many  wore  wounded  w  ith  great 
wounds,  whom  they  suffered  to  escape  to  strike  ;i  terror  in  tiie  rest 
that  were  not  there.  There  were  some  so  cruel  and  butcherlike,  that 
they  killed  old  and  young,  and  all  that  they  met,  though  they  made 
no  resistance :  and  those  which  presumed  of  themselves  for  their  valor, 
and  were  taken  for  such,  broke  through  the  Indians,  bearing  down 
many  with  their  stirrups  and  breasts  of  their  horses  ;  and  some  they 
wounded  with  their  lances,  and  so  let  them  go :  and  when  they  saw- 
any  youth  or  woman  they  took  them,  and  delivered  them  to  the  foot- 
men. These  men's  sins  by  God's  permission,  lighted  on  their  own 
heads :  who,  because  they  would  seem  valiant,  became  cruel ;  showing 
themselves  extreme  cowards  in  the  sight  of  all  men  when  as  most 
need  of  valor  was  required,  and  afterwards  they  came  to  a  shameful 
death.  Of  the  Indians  of  Xiko  were  taken  prisoners,  four.score  women 
and  children,  and  nmch  spoil.  The  Indians  of  G uarhofja  kept  liack 
before  they  came  at  the  town,  and  stayed  without,  beholding  the  suc- 
cess of  the  Christi:ins  with  the  men  of  Xiko.  And  when  they  saw 
them  put  to  flight,  and  the  horsemen  busy  in  killing  of  thein,  they 


I 


190 


UlSTullICAL  COLLECTIONS  OP  LOUISIAN.\, 


hasttncJ  to  the  houses  to  rob,  ami  filled  their  canoes  with  the  spoil 
of  the  goods;  and  returned  to  (luachoi/a  before  the  Christians;  and 
wondering  much  at  the  sharp  dealing  which  they  had  seen  them  use 
towjwd  the  Indians  of  Nile,  they  told  tiieir  cacique  all  that  had  passed 
with  L^reat  astonishment. 

The  Governor  felt  in  himself  that  the  hour  approached  wherein  he 
was  to  leave  this  present  life,  and  called  for  the  king's  oflicers,  cap- 
tains, and  principal  persons,  to  whom  he  made  a  speech,  saying : — 

"  That  now  he  was  to  go  to  give  an  account  before  the  presence  of 
God  of  all  his  life  past :  and  since  it  pleased  him  to  take  him  in  such 
a  time,  and  that  the  time  was  come  that  he  knew  his  death,  that  he 
his  most  unworthy  servant  did  yield  him  many  thanks  therefor ;  and 
desired  all  that  were  present  and  absent  (whom  ho  confessed  himself 
to  bo  much  beholding  unto  for  their  singular  virtues,  love  and  loyalty, 
which  himself  had  well  tried  in  the  travels  which  they  had  suffered, 
which  always  in  his  mind  he  did  hope  to  satisfy  and  reward,  when  it 
should  please  God  to  give  him  rest,  with  more  prosperity  of  his  es- 
tate), that  they  would  pray  to  God  for  him,  that  for  his  mercy  he  would 
forgive  him  his  sins,  and  receive  his  soul  into  eternal  glory :  and  that 
they  would  quit  and  free  him  of  the  charge  which  he  had  over  them,  and 
ought  unto  them  all,  and  that  they  would  pardon  him  for  some  wrongs 
which  they  might  have  received  of  him.  And  to  avoid  some  division, 
which  upon  his  death  might  fall  out  upon  the  choice  of  his  successor, 
he  requested  them  to  elect  a  principal  person,  and  able  to  govern,  of 
whom  all  should  like  well;  and  when  he  was  elected,  they  should 
swear  before  him  to  obey  him  :  and  that  he  would  thank  them  very 
much  in  so  doing ;  because  the  grief  that  he  had,  would  somewhat  be 
assuaged,  and  the  pain  that  he  felt,  because  he  left  them  in  so  great 
confusion,  to  wit,  in  leaving  them  in  a  strange  country,  where  they 
knew  not  where  they  were. 

Baltasar  de  Gallegoa  answered  in  the  name  of  all  the  rest.  And 
first  of  all  comforting  him,  he  set  before  his  eyes  how  short  the  life  of 
this  world  was,  and  with  how  many  troubles  and  miseries  it  is  ac- 
companied, and  how  God  showed  him  a  singular  fiivor  which  soonest 
left  it :  telling  him  many  other  things  fit  for  such  a  time.  And  for 
the  last  point,  that  since  it  pleased  God  to  take  him  to  himself,  al- 
though his  death  did  justly  grieve  them  much,  yet  as  well  he,  as  all 
the  rest,  ought  of  necessity  to  conform  themselves  to  the  will  of  God. 
And  touching  the  Governor  which  he  commanded  they  should  elect, 
he  besought  him,  that  it  would  please  his  lordship  to  name  him  which 


V    ! 


KXrEDITIOX  OP  HERNANnO  DE  SOTO. 


101 


ho  tliought  fit,  and  him  tlioy  would  oboy.  And  presently  lie  nruiieii 
Liiijn  ih',  Moscnsi)  til  Afniraifo,  liis  oaptain-gonoral.  And  j)rosently  lit- 
was  sworn  by  all  that  were  present,  and  elected  for  governor.  The 
next  day,  being  the  "21st  of  May,  15t'2,  departed  out  of  tlii.i  life, 
the  valorou.s,  virtuous,  and  valiant  Captain,  J)'in  Fi'i-mimh)  df  Soto, 
(fOvernor  of  Cuha,  nw\  Adelantado  of  Floriiht:  whom  fortune  nd- 
vauecd,  as  it  useth  to  do  others,  that  he  might  have  the  higher  fall 
He  departed  in  sueh  a  place,  and  at  such  a  time,  as  in  his  .sickness  he 
had  liut  little  comfort  :  and  the  danger  wherein  all  his  people  were  ol 
perishing  in  that  country,  which  appeared  before  their  eyes,  wa.-^  cause 
.sufficient  why  every  one  of  them  had  need  of  comfort,  and  why  they 
did  not  visit  nor  accompany  him  as  tluy  ought  to  have  done.  Lut/.^ 
iJc  Mi^roto  determined  to  conceal  his  death  from  the  Indians,  because 
FcrdliuuHli)  Jc  S'lto  had  made  them  believe  that  the  (Miristians  were 
immortal;  and  also  because  they  took  him  to  bo  hardy,  wise,  and 
valiant :  and  if  they  should  know  that  he  was  dead,  they  would  be 
bold  to  set  upon  the  Christians,  though  they  lived  peaceably  by  them. 
In  regard  of  their  disposition,  and  because  they  were  nothing  con- 
stant, and  believed  all  that  was  told  them,  the  Adelantado  made  them 
believe,  that  he  knew  some  things  that  pas.sed  in  secret  among  them- 
selves, without  their  knowledge,  how,  or  in  what  manner  he  came  by 
thorn  :  and  that  the  figure  which  appeared  in  a  glass,  which  he  showed 
them,  did  tell  him  whatsoever  they  practiced  and  went  about :  and 
therefore  neither  in  word  nor  deed  durst  they  attempt  anything  that 
might  bo  prejudicial  unto  him. 

As  soon  as  he  was  dead,  Lui/s  Je  Moscoso  commanded  to  put  him 
secretly  in  the  house,  where  he  remained  three  days ;  and  removing 
him  from  thence,  commanded  him  to  be  buried  in  the  night  at  one  of 
the  gates  of  the  town  within  the  wall.  And  as  the  Indians  had  seen 
him  sick,  and  missed  him,  so  did  they  suspect  what  might  be.  And 
passing  by  the  place  where  he  was  buried,  seeing  the  earth  moved, 
they  looked  and  spake  one  to  another.  Liii/s  dc  Muacoso  understanding 
of  it,  commanded  him  to  be  taken  up  by  night,  and  to  cast  a  great  deal 
of  sand  into  the  mantles,  wherein  he  was  wound  up,  wherein  he  was 
carried  in  a  canoe,  and  thrown  into  the  midst  of  the  river.  The  Cacique 
of  Guachoi/a  inquired  for  him,  demanding  what  was  become  of  his 
brother  and  lord,  the  Governor  :  Luys  de  Moscoso  told  him  that  he  wa.s 
gone  to  heaven,  as  many  other  times  he  did  :  and  because  ho  was  to 
atay  there  certain  days  he  had  left  him  in  his  place.  The  cacique 
thought  with  himself  that  he  was  dead;   and  commanded  two  young 


'(' 


H 


192 


llJSrORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOULSIAXA. 


and  wi'll-iimportionod  Indians  to  be  brought  thither  ;  and  said,  tliat 
rlio  use  of  that  country  was,  when  any  lord  died,  to  kill  Indians  to 
wait  upon  him,  and  servo  him  by  the  way,  and  for  that  purpose  by 
his  commandment  wore  those  come  thither  :  and  prayed  ]jtn/-<  ih:  M/s- 
'oso  to  command  them  to  be  beheaded,  that  they  might  attend  and 
iorve  his  lord  and  brother.  X»y,s  dc  Jfusi-oso  UAd  him,  that  the  Clo- 
vernor  was  not  dead,  but  gone  to  heaven,  and  that  of  his  own  Chris- 
tian soldiers,  ho  had  taken  such  as  he  neode<l  to  serve  him,  and  prayed 
him  to  command  those  Indians  to  bo  loosed,  and  not  to  use  any  such 
bad  custom  from  thenceforth  :  straightway  he  commanded  them  to 
be  hiosed,  and  to  got  them  homo  to  their  Ikiusos.  And  one  of  them 
woulil  not  go ;  saying,  that  ho  would  not  serve  him,  that  without  de- 
sert had  judged  liim  to  death,  but  that  ho  would  serve  him  as  long 
as  he  lived,  which  had  saved  his  life. 

Ijii^k  ilr  Moi^aiso  caused  all  the  goods  of  the  flovornor  to  be  sold 
at  an  outcry :  to  wit,  two  men  slaves  and  two  women  slaves,  and  three 
horses,  and  seven  hundred  hogs.  For  every  slave  or  horse,  they  gave 
two  or  three  thousand  ducats:  which  were  to  be  paid  at  the  first 
melting  of  gold  or  silver,  or  at  the  division  of  their  portion  of  inherit- 
ance. And  they  entered  into  bonds,  though  in  the  country  there 
was  not  wherewith,  to  pay  it  within  a  year  after,  and  put  in  sureties 
for  the  same,  f^uch  as  in  Spnin  had  no  goods  to  bind,  gave  two 
iiundred  ducats  for  a  hog,  giving  assurance  after  the  same  manner. 
Those  which  had  any  goods  in  Spain,  bought  with  more  fear,  and 
bought  the  less.  From  that  time  forward,  most  of  the  company  had 
swine,  and  brouglit  them  up,  and  fed  upon  them ;  and  observed 
Fridays  and  Saturdays,  and  the  evenings  of  feasts,  which  before  they 
did  not.  For  some  times  in  two  or  three  months  they  did  eat  no 
flesh,  and  whensoever  they  could  come  by  it,  they  did  eat  it. 

Some  were  glad  of  the  death  of  Don  Fn-dinando  dc  Soto,  holding 
for  certain  that  Lii^n  dc  Moscoso  (which  was  given  to  his  ease),  would 
rather  desire  to  bo  among  the  Christians  at  rest,  than  to  continue  the 
labors  of  the  war  in  subduing  and  discovering  of  countries;  whereof 
thoy  were  already  weary,  seeing  the  small  profit  that  ensued  thereof. 
The  Governor  commanded  the  captains  and  principal  persons  to  meet 
to  consult  and  determine  what  they  should  do.  And  being  informed 
what  peopled  habitation  was  round  about,  ho  understood  that  to  the 
west,  the  country  was  most  inhabited,  and  that  down  the  river  be- 
yond Qui'jnha  was  uninhabited,  and  had  little  store  of  food.  He 
desired  tliem  all,  that  every  one  would  give  his  opinion  in  writing. 


r.M'KlilTKiN  nv  IIKUNANHK  UK  soTO. 


in:; 


anil  sot  Ills  liiniil  to  it  :  that  tlioy  might  rosdlvc  liy  u'l'innil  oons(Mit. 
wlicthcr  they  shmild  gn  down  the  rivi-r,  or  cntrr  into  tlio  ni:iin  himl. 
All  wiTo  of  opinion,  that  it  was  best  to  go  hy  lainl  towanl  tlio  wost. 
Itceanso  \ii<'cii  K^jinnn  was  that  way;  holding  thr  vuyagi'  I>y  sea 
more  dangerous,  and  of  greater  hazard,  liecanse  th'y  eoidil  make  no 
shi[)  <it'  any  strength  to  abide  a  storm,  neither  iiad  they  master,  nor 
pih't,  compass,  nor  chart,  neitiier  knew  they  how  far  the  sea  was  otV. 
nor  had  any  notice  of  it;  nor  whether  tiie  river  did  make  any  great 
turning  into  the  land,  or  h;id  any  great  fall  from  the  rucks,  wiicre  all 
of  them  might  be  cast  away.  And  some  wliicli  IkkI  si'cn  the  sea- 
cliart,  did  find,  that  from  the  jdaee  when  tiiey  were  ly  tlie  sea-coa>t 
to  Xi(cv(i  J-JsjKiiiii,  might  be  four  hundred  leagues,  little  nion!  or  less; 
and  sai<l,  that  tliough  they  went  somewhat  about  iiy  land  in  sicking 
a  peopled  country,  if  some  great  wilderness  which  tiicy  couM  not  jias.- 
did  iiindor  them,  Ity  spending  that  summer  in  travel,  lividing  provision 
to  pass  the  winter  in  some  peopled  country,  that  the  next  sumnuT 
after  they  might  come  to  some  Christian  land,  and  that  it  might  fir- 
tune  in  their  travel  by  land  to  find  some  rich  country,  where  they 
might  do  themselves  good.  The  (Jovernor,  although  ho  desired  to 
get  out  of  Fluriild  in  shorter  time,  seeing  the  iiieouveniences  they 
laid  before  him,  in  traveling  by  sea,  determined  to  follow  that  which 
soomed  good  to  them  all.  On  .Monday,  the  lifth  day  of  June,  he  de- 
parted from  (iuiir/iiii/((.  The  caci<|Ue  gave  him  a  guide  to  ('liiiijiiati , 
and  stayed  at  home  in  his  own  town.  They  pas.MMl  through  a  pro- 
vince called  Cdfiiffi':  and  having  passed  a  wilderness  of  six  days" 
journey,  the  twentieth  day  of  the  month  ho  came  to  ('lin</iititi'.  The 
cacique  of  this  province  had  visited  the  Governor  /fnn  Fi  riUnnnili,  ,L 
S'jii>  at  AutidDiijitr^  whither  he  brouglit  him  presents  of  skins,  and. 
mantles,  and  salt.  And  a  day  before  Lii//<  </'  Mi,.-r<).<i,  came  to  his 
town,  we  lost  a  Christian  that  was  sick;  which  he  suspected  that  the 
Indians  had  slain,  lie  sent  the  caciipie  word,  that  he  shoulil  com- 
mand his  people  to  seek  him  up,  and  .'^end  him  unto  him,  and  that 
he  would  hold  him,  as  he  did,  for  his  friend ;  and  if  he  did  not,  that 
neither  ho,  nor  his,  sliould  escape  his  hands,  and  that  he  would  .set 
his  country  on  tire.  Presently  the  caciijue  came  unto  him,  and 
brought  a  great  present  of  mantles  and  skins,  and  the  Christian  that 
was  lost,  and  made  this  speech  following : 

"  Ilight  excellent  lord,  I  would  not  deserve  that  conceit  which  you 

had  of  me,  for  all  the  treasure  of  the  world.     What  enforced  me  to 

go  to  visit  and  serve  the   excellent  Lord   (lovernor  your  father  in 

AvtiamquCj  which  you  should  have  remembered,  where  1  otfered  my- 

14 


ffl 


n:, 

i  ■'  ! 


mi 


HISTul'.irAr,  Cdl.r.KCTKiNS  (iF  MM  ISI.V.VA. 


<v\{'  willi  all  lovalty,  I'nitli  ainl  IdVc,  diiriiiL''  niv  lifo  ti>  svrvc  iumI  dbev 
iiiiir'  \Vli:it  tliuii  CDuM  1)0  tlic  cans'',  I  luivin,:;'  rociivt'd  {\'.\i>rs  el" 
liiiii,  niiil  iicitluT  ynu  iinr  liu  liaviiiL'  tlmic  iiir  any  v.nmj:,  tliat  slionM 
ni'ivo  nio  ti)  do  tin;  tliiiii:'  v.li'uli  I  nu;:Iit  nut''  IJiTiovo  this  ni"  nu', 
tliat  ncifluT  wi'iiiinr,  iKiv  ;ni_v  worMiy  interest,  \\;is  aM<;  to  iiiakc  nic  to 
have  done  it,  iim-  .■"liall  lio  able  to  Mind  nu-.  l!ut  as  in  this  lil'r  it  is 
I  natural  e(jnrse,  that  after  oiio  jdoasure  many  sorrows  do  folln»v:  f^n 
by  ytmr  indiiniation,  fortune  would  moderate  tlie  joy,  wbicdi  my  heart 
eoneeiveth  with  your  pre.-ence  ;  and  that  I  should  err,  where  I  thou<:lit 
surest  to  have  hit  the  mark;  in  harboring  this  Christian  \\liieh  was 
lost,  and  using  him  in  sueh  manner,  as  he  may  tell  himself,  thinking 
rliat  herein  I  did  you  service',  witli  inirpose  to  deliver  him  unto  you 
in  ('ii/i(/ii<i/' ,  and  to  serv  •  you  to  the  uttermost  of  my  jiower.  If  I 
deserve  iiunishment  for  tl  is,  [  will  receive  it  at  your  hands,  as  from 
my  lord,  as  if  it  were  a  favor.  For  the  love  which  1  did  bear  to  the 
excellent  ( Sovernor,  and  wliieh  T  bear  to  you  hath  no  limit.  And 
like  as  you  give  me  cha>tisenu'nt,  so  will  you  also  show  me  fuvor. 
And  that  which  now  I  crave  of  you  is  this,  to  declare  your  will  unto 
nie,  and  those  thing.s  wherein  I  may  be  able  to  do  you  the  nm-t  and 
best  service." 

The  (lovernor  answered  liini,  tbat  because  he  did  not  find  him  in  that 
town,  he  was  ir.censed  against  him,  thinking  he  had  absented  himself, 
IS  others  had  done :  but  seeing  he  now  knew  his  loyalty  and  love,  ho 
would  always  hold  him  as  a  brother,  and  favor  him  in  all  his  affairs. 
The  cacii(ue  went  with  him  to  the  town  where  he  resided,  which  was 
I  day's  journey  from  thence.  They  passed  through  a  small  town, 
where  there  Avas  a  lake,  where  the  Indians  made  salt:  and  the  Chris- 
rians  made  some  one  day  while  they  rested  there,  of  a  brackish  water, 
which  sprang  near  the  town  in  ponds  like  fountains.  The  (iovernor 
-itayed  in  C/ttii/it(if<  six  days.  There  ho  was  informed  of  the  liabita- 
'ion  towards  the  west.  They  told  him,  that  three  daj's'  journey  from 
thence  was  a  province  called  A;/itii<:<ii/.  The  day  that  he  departed 
from  ClinijuatCy -d  Christian,  called  Fnnici'sco  dc  6' //../»(/»,  the  base 
son  of  a  gentleman  of  S- ri/l>',  stayed  behind,  and  went  to  the  Indians, 
with  an  Indian  woman  which  he  kept  a.s  his  concubine,  for  fear  he 
should  be  punished  for  gaining  debts  that  he  did  owe.  The  Governor 
had  traveled  two  days  before  he  missed  him;  he  sent  the  cacique  word 
to  sock  him  up,  and  to  send  him  to  Ajudfaj/,  wdiither  he  traveled : 
which  he  did  not  perform.  From  the  Caci(iue  of  Ayuacai/,  before 
they  came  into  the  country,  there  mot  him  ou  the  way  fifteen  Indians 
with  a  present  of  skin.s,  fish,  and  roasted  venison.     The  Governor 


K\)'i;iirii(i\  (iF  iii'.uNAXiiu  ur,  sivn). 


1'.^ 


oanio  tu  tliis  townnn  'Wcilnc.-il.iy,  the  fourth  of  •Inly.  Ilf  fnuii'l  th'.' 
town  witlioiu  pcnj.lc,  Mini  Iml^aMl  iu  it  :  ho  staycil  iIuTi^  ii^miu  n  il;iy ; 
ilurn!!.'  which,  lie  iiKuh-  Home  roiiils,  and  took  many  men  au'l  wumrn. 
'J'Ihti'  t'li'y  liail  IviiowK'il;.'!'  of  tho  Smitli  S"i.  Hltc  iIut"  whs  iriv'ir 
store  of  <;ilt  mailo  of  ^uml,  uhich  tliey  irather  in  a  vein  of  -i-.uml 
!il;e  pi'hhlo  istones.     Ami  it  was  maile  as  they  mailc  ^^alt  in  ('iij/ii.<. 

Tho  same  ihiy  that  the  <!ovenior(h'parteil  t'rom  A;/iiii'(i)/,\\i:  loc'.pl 
in  !i  small  town  suhjert  lo  the  lord  of  tliat  iimvinei'.  The  eaiiip 
was  piti-licd  hind  !iy  a  laki;  of  salt  water;  and  that  evening.'  they  mado 
snnii!  salt  tluire.  The  day  followini^  he  Iodised  hctwcen  two  np.un- 
tain<  in  a  ihhi  frrove  of  wood.  The  next  day  he  came  to  a  .-mail 
town  railed  I*(rt'>.  The  fourth  day  after  his  departure  from  .!'/(""■'/ 
he  came  to  the  iir<t  halitalion  of  a  province  called  Aiimj/:.  Th' r^' 
an  Indian  was  taken,  which  said  that  from  thence  to  Xin/iiiii.x  \v;is  i 
day  and  a  half's  Journey;  which  they  traV(ded,  findiii;^'  all  the  way 
inhabiteil  places.  Having  passed  the  pei^plcil  country  of  Ai,iiii/i\  o;i 
Saturday,  the  twentieth  of  »Jnly,  they  pitched  their  camp  at  noon  'je- 
tween  Ar,itti/r  ami  Xni/mifr.r  along  the  corner  of  a  grove  of  very  fair 
trees.  In  the  same  place  certain  Indians  were  discovered,  that  came 
to  view  them.  The  horsemen  went  out  to  them,  and  hilled  si.v,  and 
took  two,  whom  the  (lovcrnor  asked,  v>hcrcforo  they  came '/  Thy 
sail],  to  know  what  people  he  had,  and  what  order  they  kept;  and 
that  the  ('aci(|ue  o^  Xn'jnnti'x,  their  lord,  had  sent  them,  and  that  he, 
with  other  cacifpu's  which  came  to  aid  him,  determined  that  ilay  to 
bid  him  hattle.  "While  they  were  occupied  in  these  <piestions  an  I 
answers,  there  came  many  Indians  by  two  ways  in  two  sf[uadrons  :  an  1 
when  they  .saw  they  were  descried,  giving  a  great  cry  they  assaulted  tli' 
(Mu'istians  each  sipiadron  by  itself;  but  seeing  wdiat  resistance  the 
Christians  made  tiiem,  they  turned  their  backs  and  betook  thenjselve> 
to  ilight,  in  which  many  of  them  lost  their  lives;  and  most  of  the 


hor 


semen 


fol 


owniir 


tl 


lem  in  cnasc,  careless  o 


ck 


if  tl 


ic 


camp,  other  tw 


squadrons  of  Indians,  which  lay  in  ambush,  set  upon  the  Christians 
that  Avere  in  the  camp,  which  also  they  resisted,  who  also  had  their 
reward  as  the  first.  After  the  flight  of  the  Indians,  and  that  tlie 
Christians  wore  retired,  they  heard  a  great  noise  a  crossbow  shot  from 
the  place  wdiere  they  were.  The  Governor  sent  twelve  horsemen  ^) 
see  what  it  was.     1'hey  found   six  Christians,  four  footmen  and  tv.-o 


lorseiueii,  amr 


ong  many  Indians  ;  the  horsemen  defendinii'  the  f  iit- 


mcn  with  m'eat  labor.     These  being  of  them  that  chased  the  lirst  t 


rpiadron 
the 


had  lost  themselvi 


lid  coming  to  recover  the  camp 


W'> 

f.ll 


aiuom 


ith 


osc  witli  wuoiu  they  were 


th 


fi-iht 


inir 


md   -I  tl 


>ev. 


unl  t.iC'-e 


U  1 


]'.\r, 


iriSTOHU.'AL  rof.LECTfONS  OP  LOlfSlANA 


fli.it  came  to  suc'cdi-  tliPin,  slew  iiiiiiiy  of  the  Indians,  ami  hrouglit  nno 
alivK  to  the  eani|):  ulinin  the  (iovrnuir  exaniiiiod,  who  thoy  were  thai 
eaiiie  to  bid  him  liatth-.  lie  told  him,  that  they  were  the  ('aei(|Ur(if 
S'i'jiidlc.r,  and  of  Aiiim/i',  and  another  of  a  provinee  ealled  J/artiiKir. 
a  Inrd  (if  groat  eoiintrieH  and  many  sulijects;  and  tiiat  the  ('a(ii|ue  of 
.\w;/ //(//.,/•  fame  for  eaptain  and  chief  of  tliem  all.  The  (inyrrnor 
c  iiimanded  his  right  arm  and  nose  to  be  cut  otV,  and  sent  him  to  the 
(':icii|ue  of  Xdijiuitcr,  charging  him  to  W\\  him,  that  the  next  day  he 
w'iaild  be  in  his  country  to  destroy  him  ;  and  if  he  would  witht«tand 
hi<  entrance,  he  should  stay  for  him.  That  night  he  lodged  there; 
and  the  next  day  he  came  to  the  habitation  of  Xdijnnti.r,  which  was 
V(.ry  scattering :  he  imjuired  where  tliti  cacique's  cliicf  town  was? 
They  told  him  that  it  was  on  tlie  other  side  of  a  river,  that  passed 
thereby:  he  traveled  thitiierward,  and  came  unto  it:  and  on  the  other 
side  he  saw  many  Indians,  that  tarried  for  him,  making  show  as 
though  they  would  defend  the  passage.  And  because  he  knew  not 
vv  lit'Mier  it  could  be  waded,  nor  where  tbo  passage  was,  and  that  some 
Christians  and  horses  were  hurt,  that  they  might  have  time  to  recover, 
he  determined  to  rest  certain  days  in  the  town  where  he  was.  So  ho 
pitched  his  camp  a  (|uarter  of  a  league  from  the  river,  because  the 
weather  was  very  hot,  near  unto  the  town,  in  a  thin  grove  of  very 
fair  and  high  trees  near  a  brook's  side  :  and  in  that  place  were  certain 
Indians  taken ;  whom  be  examined,  whether  the  river  were  wadeable 
or  no  '.  They  said  yea,  at  sonic  times,  and  in  some  places.  AVithin  ten 
days  after  be  sent  two  captains  with  fifteen  horsemen  a  piece  upward 
and  down  tbo  river  with  Indians  to  show  them  where  they  should  go 
over,  to  see  what  habitation  was  on  the  other  side.  And  the  Indians 
■withstood  them  both,  defending  the  passage  of  the  river  as  far  as  they 
•wore  able,  but  they  passed  in  despite  of  them  :  and  on  the  other  side 
of  the  river  they  saw  great  habitation,  and  great  store  of  victuals; 
and  with  these  news  returned  to  the  camp. 

The  Governor  sent  an  Indian  from  Xaynatex  where  be  lay,  to  com- 
mand the  cacique  to  come  to  serve  and  obey  him,  and  that  he  would 
forgive  him  all  that  was  past;  that  if  he  came  not,  that  he  would 
seek  him,  and  give  him  such  punishment  as  he  bad  deserved  for  that 
wliicb  be  had  done  against  him.  Within  two  days  the  Indian  re- 
turned, and  said  that  the  cacique  would  come  the  next  day;  which, 
the  same  day  when  he  came,  sent  many  Indians  before  him,  among 
whom  there  were  some  principal  men :  be  sent  them  to  see  what  coun- 
tenance they  found  in  the  Governor,  to  resolve  with  himself  whether 
ho  should  go  or  not.     The  Indians  let  bim  understand,  that  be  was 


1 


KXPEIHTION  OF  IIKHNANDO  UK  SOTO. 


107 


IS!! 


cojuinjr,  luid  wont  iiwny  presently:  jiml  tin-  ciKinuc  catnc  wiiliin  iwn 
liours  accMiiijiaiiiril  with  many  t)t'  his  nifii :  flicy  cann'  all  in  a  r.nik 
one  lii'l'di'i.'  aniitliLT  i>n  both  sidt's,  leaving  a  lane  in  tlu'  midst  uIhto 
lie  fanii'.  'J'h<y  caiin!  where  the  (luvcrnur  was,  all  of  tluin  wiipini^ 
after  the  maimer  of  Tulln,  whi'-li  was  not  far  from  thenei'  toward 
the  east.  Tho  cueinuo  niatlo  his  due  ohedienee,  and  the  sjieeeh  t"l- 
lowing : 

"  Iiijrht  hi;:li  and  mi^rlity  lord,  wdiom  all  the  worlil  on^dit  to  ?.erve 
and  oI,.ey,  I  was  Imld  to  a|i|iear  liefore  y^nr  Inrd.-hip,  liavinL'  eninmi!;!  d 
."io  heiuiins  and  alioniinable  an  aet,  as  only  for  me  ttt  have  ima;:iiii  d, 
deserved  to  he  ]iuiiishod  ;  trusting;  in  your  {.'veutness,  that  althon;:h  I 
de.serve  tn  ohtain  no  pardon,  yet  for  yonr  own  .'-ake  only  ynu  will  n-.' 
(leniency  toward  me,  considering  how  small  I  am  in  comparisnn  df 
}oiir  lordship;  and  not  to  think  npun  my  weaknes.ses,  which,  to  my 
grief  and  for  my  jrreater  gocid,  1  have  known.  And  I  In  lievc;  iliat 
you  and  yours  are  immortal ;  and  that  your  lord.ship  is  lord  of  tin; 
land  of  nature,  .seeing  that  you  subdue  all  things,  and  they  obeyyiui, 
even  the  very  hearts  of  men.  Fur  when  I  beheld  the  slaughter  and 
destruction  of  my  uien  in  the  battK',  which,  through  mine  ignnraiiee, 
and  the  eouu.sel  of  a  brother  i>f  mine,  which  died  in  the  same,  1  gave 
3'our  lordship,  presently  I  repeTit<.'d  nn-  in  my  heart  of  the  error,  w  hieh 
I  had  committed  J  and  desired  to  serve  and  obey  you  :  and  U<  tiiis 
end  I  come,  that  your  lordship  may  ehasti.se  and  command  me  as  yuur 
own." 

Tho  Coveruor  answered  him,  tluit  he  forgave  him  all  wlii(di  wa-; 
past,  that  from  thenceforth  he  shuuld  do  his  duty,  and  that  he  wnuM 
bold  him  for  his  friend,  and  that  he  would  favor  him  in  all  things. 
Within  four  days  ho  departed  tlienee,  and  coming  to  the  river  he 
could  not  pass,  because  it  was  grown  very  big;  which  seemed  to  him 
;i  thing  of  admiration,  being  at  that  time  that  it  wa.s,  and  since  it, 
had  not  rained  a  month  before.  The  Indians  .siid,  that  it  increased 
many  times  after  that  manner  without  raining  in  all  the  country.  It 
was  suppn.-;ed,  that  it  might  bo  the  title  that  came  into  it.  It  was 
learned  that  the  flood  came  alway  fnnn  above,  and  that  the  Indiana  of 
all  that  country  had  no  knowledge  of  the  sea.  The  (iovernor  rcturueil 
unto  the  place  where  he  had  hnlired  before  :  and  understanding  with- 
in eight  days  after  that  the  river  was  passaljle,  he  departed.  lie 
passed  over  and  found  tho  town  without  people:  he  lodged  in  the 
field,  and  sent  tho  cacitpie  word  to  come  unto  him,  and  to  bring  liini 
a  guide  to  go  forward.  And  some  days  being  past,  seeing  the  caei(|ne 
came  not,  nor  sent  anybody,  he  sent  two  captains  sundry  w;iys  to  burn 


m 


I 


'H 


n 


108 


IirsTOUKAL  Cor.LKCTKiNS  (iF  r.OLISIANA. 


tlio  towns,  ami  to  t;il;i!  sudi  Iiiiliaiis  n-i  tiny  cniM  liiiil.  Tiny  Imrnt 
^'iiat  store  til'  victuals,  ami  took  Jiiaiiy  liiuiaiis.  Tlii;  ciuiiiiu:  scciii": 
tlio  hurt  tliut  lio  ivi'oivt'il  In  liis  country,  sent  six  jirim-ijial  iMiliiins 
villi  lliroo  men  i'or  giiidc'S,  wliiih  know  the  ]!in;:u:igo  of  tlu'  country 
tlirtiii^h  which  tlin  (iovcnior  was  to  jiass.  lie  dcjiartcd  jircsontly 
iv<i\n  Xni/itKfi.r,  anil  Avithiii  thrco  days'  journey  came  to  :i  town  of 
r  iiir  or  livo  houses,  whieii  lulongiil  to  the  ea<i'|ue  of  that  ]<ro\incOj 
whieh  is  calleil  AiKsufuic:  it  was  evil  inhahited,  and  had  little  maize. 
Two  days'  Journey  forward  the  guiiles  which  {.uided  ilie  (lovcrnor,  if 
liny  were  to  go  Westward,  guided  him  to  iho  ca.-t ;  and  soiDetimes 
Weill  iij)  ami  down  throujdi  v<'ry  great  woods  out  of  the  way.  The 
(I'ovi  rtmr  coiiimanded  them  to  he  hanged  Ujion  a  tree:  and  a  woman 
that  they  took  i!i  Xify'^aiit:  guided  hiiii,  and  went  haek  again  to  seek 
the  way.  In  two  days  ho  came  to  another  miserable  town  calh  1 
L'lrdif:  an  Indian  was  taken  in  that  jilaee,  that  said,  that  tin;  couii- 
liT  (if  X"ii,/iirii>i  was  a  country  of  great  hahitation,  and  the  houses 
.-eatdriiej'  the  one  from  the  other,  as  they  used  to  he  in  mountains, 
tiud  had  great  .-^tore  cf  maize.  The  eacii|ue  c;ime  with  his  men  weep- 
ing, like  tliem  (if  Xtniiiiitr.r :  fur  this  is  tlieir  use  in  token  of  ohc- 
dieiH'e  :  he  ma.de  him  a  jiresent  of  nmeh  fish,  and  oftered  to  do  what 
l.e  would  command  him.      He  tool:  his  leave,  uml  iiavc  him  a  !,'uidt 

to  the  Iirovineo  of   Sniicntlitn, 

The  (loveruor  departed  from  Xi'ii'/acao  towards  Snucnfni/^,  and 
in  five  days'  journey  came  to  a  province  called  ^loy.s'.  The  Indians 
whirli  inhahited  it  had  no  imtiee  of  the  Christians:  but  as  soon  as 
they  saw  that  they  entered  into  their  country,  ihey  as-embleil  them- 
selves :  and  as  they  came  together  fifty  or  a  hundred,  they  came  forth 
to  fight.  AVliile  some  fought,  other.?  came  and  charged  our  men  an- 
other v.ay,  and  while  they  followed  some,  others  followed  them.  The 
fight  lasted  the  greatest  part  of  the  day,  till  they  came  to  their  town 
(Some  horses  and  nn-n  were  v.oundcd,  but  imt  to  any  hurt  of  their 
ti'aveling :  for  there  was  no  M'ouml  that  was  dangerous.  There  was 
a  great  .--poil  made  of  the  Indians.  That  day  that  the  Governor  de- 
]iarli'd  from  thence,  the  Indian  that  guided  him  .said  that  in  S\'tnihi' 
inn  he  had  heard  say,  that  the  Indians  of  Soaciithto  had  seen  other 
Christians,  whereof  tluiy  all  were  very  glad :  thinking  it  might  be 
true,  and  that  they  might  have  entered  into  these  parts  by  Xucca 
r.spniid ;  and  that  if  it  were  so,  it  was  in  their  own  hand  to  go  out 
of  Florida,  if  they  found  nothing  of  jirofit :  for  they  feared  they 
should  lose  themselves  in  some  wilderness.  This  Indian  led  him  two 
ilavs  out  of  the  wav.     Th.e  Governor  commanded  to  torture  him. 


V.Xri;iilT!iiN  nF  IIFUNANnu  UK  suTit. 


]W 


Ho  Miiil,  tliiil  the  (' i'-i'|ne  itf  .V"»'/""'",  lii-*  I'lil.  li:i'I  I'l.uinKiii'li'il  liiiii 
to  i^n'uU'.  llii'itl  F>  Ih'cuu  ''i<\v  wrro  liis  tiiruiii's,  ;iu'l  i!i  il  Ic  \v;i>  tu  ili> 
as  lii.x  \"V<\  ouiiiiuuii  ?> '1  liiui.  I'll"  (luvriiiiiiTniii!ii:iiiihiI  liiiii  titltcca,*! 
to  till'  ilii-.  •  ;i!u.l  nnutli(  I  i'liidi'il  him  to  S'liirnfinn,  wliiiliri*  ln'ciiliit'  tin 
iluy  f'llluwitig.  It  was  a  very  l<"  r  fnimtry  :  iIhtc  wms  ;.'ri  :it  want  ni 
mai/.c  ill  lliat  plai-.  Ilo  iiski'l  tli.'  liiilimis  wIu'IIkt  iIk  y  Iohw  of 
any  oi'icr  Christians.  'I'licy  said  lliat  a  litlh;  fnaii  lli'  iicc  tnwuMl  {\v 
.south  ih«y  hoanl  they  Win'.  Ih'  Ir.ivchMl  twenty  ihiys  thnm^ii  aci'iiu- 
try  evil  inhahilod.  whci'i'  ih.'y  sufVcrcil  <.'iral  >catvity  and  trniilih'  ;  I'lir 
ihaf  little  maize  which  the  Indi.ans  had,  tluy  had  liiddi  n  and  huried  in 
the  \vn, ids,  where  the  Christians,  after  tlu'V  were  well  wearied  with  theii 
(ravil,  at  the  end  dt' their  jiaiiaiey  v.int  to  >fh  ]>y  dI;.'Lrinu  Imt  the;.'  y 
should  out.  At  last,  cfiminL'  to  a  jimvineo  that  was  ealltd  (In^i.-m^  they 
fiumd  niaizo,  wherewith  tliey  loaded  their  horses  anil  the  Indians  that 
they  had.  From  tlieneetliey  went  to  another  town  railed  Xiiijiiisrnin. 
The  Imlians  >aid  they  had  no  notiee  of  any  other  Christians,  'i'he 
(lOVer'.ior  coiuniaiided  to  tdrnnnt  them,  'lluy  said,  that  they  eanii 
first  to  another  lordshii)  v.hieh  was  called  X'l'-H'it/in-:,  ;ind  IVom 
thence  returned  a<fain  to  thi)  west  from  whence  ihey  came.  Thi 
(lovernor  came  in  two  days  to  Xurmd/in-:.  Soniu  women  were  taken 
there:  anion;.' whom  tlKrewas  one  whi(di  ^-aid  that  sli(>  h.id  seen 
Christians  and  had  hieii  taken  l)y  them,  and  Lad  run  away.  'J'he 
tlove.-uor  sent  a  ea]itain  with  fifteen  horsemen  to  the  jihtee  wli're  the 
woiiKiu  said  she  had  serii  tlh'm,  t  >  see  if  tlnTe  was  any  .<i;_'n  of  horse.-!, 
or  anv  token  of  their  heiiii:'  there.  After  they  had  '.^one  three  or  I'oni 
h'a^'Mes,  the  woman  that  guided  them  .said  that  all  that  .'•he  ha<l  told 
them  was  untrui'.  And  so  they  held  all  the  rest  that  the  Indians  had 
.'-aid  of  .^eein^'  Cliri>ti'ins  in  lii"  laud  of  Ff'.rt<lii.  And,  heeanso  the 
country  that  way  was  jHKir  of  mai/e,  and  towanl  t!ie  wi  >t  there  was 
no  notice  of  any  Irahitation,  they  returned  to  (imn'i'".  The  Imlians 
told  them  tliere,  that  fen  days'  journey  from  thence  toward  the  west, 
was  ;i  river  called  Ddi/run^  whitlu-r  they  went  sometimes  a  hunting 
anil  Ixilling  of  deu':  and  that  they  had  .«een  [leoj.Ie  on  tlie  other  side, 
1ait  knew  not  what  haliitatiiiu  was  there.  There  {\n'  Chri.-iiaiis  took 
.such  maizo  as  thoy  found  and  could  carry,  and  going  ten  days'  journey 
through  a  wildurncss,  they  camo  to  the  river  which  the  Indians  had 
tuld  them  of.  Ten  horsemen,  which  the  (loveriior  had  sent  licfuro, 
passed  over  the  same  and  went  in  a  way  that  led  to  tiie  vi\er,  and 
lighred  upon  a  company  of  Indians  that  dv.'elt  in  very  little  caliius  : 
wdio  as  soon  MS  they  saw  them  took  themscdves  to  flight,  leaving  that 
which    they   had;  all  wdilch  was  notliing   but  misery  ami   poverty. 


fl 


I 
li 

lit- 


200 


IIIxTOlUCAL  COLLECTIONS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


Tlie  country  w;is  so  poor,  tliat  among  tlicin  till  tluM-c  was  not  fumnl 
lialf  a  ]ifck  of  maize.  'J'lic  linrstMuon  tuok  two  fiidians,  and  R'turiud 
willi  them  to  tlk'  river,  wlicro  tlie  (lovcrudr  stayed  for  them.  lie 
-iiuglit  td  learn  of  tliem  wliat  liabitatinu  was  toward  the  west.  There 
was  mine  in  the  eamp  that  eotdd  understand  their  language.  The 
(Jovernor  assemliled  the  eaptains  and  principal  jiersous  to  determine 
with  their  advice  what  they  should  do.  And  the  most  part  said  that 
they  tliiiught  it  best  to  return  liack  to  Rin  (liiiiuh,o\:  the  (ireat 
liiver  of  (liuichoi/ii ;  because  that  in  A7Ao  and  thereabout  was  store 
of  maize;  saying,  that  they  would  make  pinnaces  that  winter,  and  the 
next  summer  pass  down  the  river  to  the  seawanl  in  them,  and  coming 
to  the  sea  they  wouhl  go  along  the  coast  to  Xni  ra  Kqnnia.  For 
though  it  seemed  a  doubtful  thing  and  diOicult,  by  that  which  they 
had  already  alleged,  yet  it  was  the  last  remedy  they  had.  Fur  by 
land  they  could  not  go  for  want  of  an  interpreter.  And  they  held, 
that  till"  counh'y  beyond  the  liiver  of  Daijcuo,  where  they  were,  was 
that  which  Cn/xai  ih-  Yurd  mentioneil  in  his  relation  that  he  passed 
''/'  (liv  Ini/itiiiK  irliick  Herd  lli:e  tlir  Alurbat,  huviiKj  no  srtt/cd ji/itc(, 
:ind  fed  upon  7V//(/,sand  roots  of  the  iitilds,  and  wihl  beasts  that  they 
killed.  Which  if  it  were  so,  if  they  should  enter  into  it  and  iiiid  no 
victuals  to  pass  the  winter,  they  couhl  not  choose  but  peri,-li,  for 
they  were  entereil  already  into  the  beginning  of  October:  and  if 
they  stayed  any  hniger  they  were  not  able  to  return  for  rain  and 
-nows,  nor  to  sustain  thetnselves  in  so  poor  a  country.  The  (Jovernor 
that  desired  long  to  see  him.self  in  a  place  where  he  might  sleep  his 
full  sleep,  rather  than  to  conquer  and  govern  a  country  where  so 
many  troubles  presented  themselves)  presently  returned  back  t'lat 
-anie  way  that  he  caiiie. 

When  that  M'hich  was  determined  was  published  in  the  camp,  there 
wore  many  that  were  greatly  grieved  at  it  :  for  they  held  the  sea  voy- 
,'je  as  doubtful,  for  the  evil  means  they  had,  and  of  as  great  danger 
IS  the  traveling  by  land :  and  they  hoped  to  fmd  some  rich  country 
;ieforc  they  came  to  the  land  of  the  Christians,  by  that  which  diiliiat 
fi  Viu-it  had  told  the  Emperor:  and  that  was  this:  That  after  he  had 
:'ound  clothes  made  of  cotton  wool,  he  saw  gold  and  silver,  and  stones 
■  if  great  value.  And  they  had  not  yet  come  where  he  had  been. 
For  until  that  place  he  ahvays  traveled  by  the  .s'a-coast  :  and  they 
ti'aveled  far  within  tlie  laud  ;  and  that  going  towards  the  we.-t,  of 
necessity  they  should  come  where  he  had  been.  For  he  said  that  in 
a  certain  placi>  he  traveled  many  days,  and  entered  into  the  land  to- 
ward the  north.     And  in   (>ua^vo  they  had  already  found  some  Tur- 


EXPEDITION'  OF  IIEKNAXDO  HE  SOTO. 


2(}l 


key  st( UK'S,  and  mantlos  of  cotton  wool :  which  tht>  Tiidians  si-iiilif^l 
by  si!_'ns  that  they  had  from  the  west  :  and  that  liohlinj.'  tliat  eimr.se 
they  shiiuld  draw  near  to  the  hind  of  the  (.'hristians.  J>ut  thoiijjih  they 
were  nuieli  di.'^eontentt'd  with  it,  and  it  grieved  many  to  go  liaekward, 
which  would  rather  have  ailventured  their  lives  and  have  diid  in  the 
land  of  Flnriihi,  than  to  have  gone  poor  out  of  it;  yet  were  they  not 
a  suilieient  i'"rt  to  hinder  that  which  was  determined,  bceau>c  the 
principal  men  aiireed  with  the  (lovernnr.  And  afterward  tliere  v,a< 
one  that  said,  he  would  put  out  one  of  his  own  eyes,  to  put  out  auntlier 
of  /v(///.N'  lie  Mosrijso ;  beeau.'<e  it  would  grieve  him  niueh  to  sec  liini 
prosper  :  becau.-e  as  well  himself  as  others  of  his  friends  had  classed 
that  which  he  durst  not  have  done,  .seeing  that  within  two  da;.  >  hf 
.should  leave  the  government.  l''rom  Dnj/fU'i,  where  now  they  were, 
to  liio  (Ira mil',  or  the  (Ireat  llivcr,  was  one  hundred  and  lifty  leagues  : 
which  unto  that  place  they  had  gone  westward.  And  by  the  way  as 
they  returned  back  they  had  much  ado  to  Had  mai/e  to  eat  :  fur  v*  here 
they  had  passed  the  country  was  destroyed;  and  some  little  maize 
that  was  left  the  Indians  had  hidden.  Tlie  towns  which  in  Xii'jitnirx 
they  had  burne<l  (whereof  it  repented  them)  were  repaired  ag.aiu.  and 
the  houses  full  of  mai/.e.  This  country  is  well  inhabited  and  plen- 
tiful. In  that  place  are  ve.s.«cls  made  of  clay,  which  dilfer  very  little 
from  those  of  Usfrnii'i:.,  or  Muntcmur.  In  ('/inijiKife  tlie  Indians  by 
commandment  of  the  eiciiiue  came  peaceably,  and  said,  that  the 
Christian  which  remained  there  would  not  come.  The  (iovernor  wrote 
unto  him,  and  sent  him  ink  and  paper  that  he  might  answer.  The 
.substance  of  the  words  of  the  letter  was  to  declare  unto  him  liis  dt;- 
termination,  which  was  to  go  out  of  the  laud  of  Flnruhi,  and  I"  put 
him  in  remembrance  that  he  was  a  Cliristian,  tliat  he  wouhl  not  re- 
main in  the  subjection  of  inlidels,  that  he  pardoned  him  the  fault 
which  he  had  done  in  going  away  to  tlie  Indians,  that  he  should  conu 
unto  him  :  and  if  tliej-  did  stay  him,  that  lie  would  advertise  hiu. 
thereof  by  writing.  The  Indian  went  with  the  letter,  and  canieag-iii: 
without  any  more  answer,  than,  on  tlie  back  side,  bi>  name  and  seal. 
that  they  miglit  know  he  was  alive.  The  (jovernor  sent  twelve  horse- 
men to  seek  him  :  but  he,  which  liad  his  sjties,  so  hid  himsell',  that 
they  cotdd  not  find  him.  For  want  of  nud/.e  the  Clovernor  could  not 
stay  any  longer  to  .seek  him.  lie  departtid  from  Chii<jii'it<  ,nnd  ].a>:-ed 
the  river  by  .1",'/-'^;  going  down  by  it  he  I'ounil  a  town  called  ('liilnnn, 
which  as  yet  they  had  not  seen.  '1  hey  canu'  to  Xilin,  and  found  so 
little  mai/.e,  as  could  not  suilicc  till  they  made  their  ships;  bvcauso 
tlie  Christians,  being  in    Cii'ac/toj/d  in  the  seed  time,  the  lndi;i.n>  for 


I 


>(..t 


;■<,; 


fji- 


■llii 


1  i 


l\ 


202 


inSTORTCAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISLVXA. 


fear  of  tlioiii  dursl  not  como  to  sow  tlio  frroumls  of  ^V/Av* ;  and  (licv 
kiKiW  not  tliurcabout  any  otlicr  country  wlicre  any  maizo  was  :  and 
that  was  the  nio.st  fruitful  soil  that  was  tlnTcaway,  and  where  ihey 
had  most  hope  to  find  it.  Kvery  one  was  confuundLil,  and  the  most 
part  thou^-iit  it  bad  counsel  to  come  back  frimi  the  river  nf  Di'i/rrm, 
and  not  to  liave  fullowed  their  fortune,  goinu'  that  way  that  went  dver 
land.  F(ir  by  sea  it  seemed  impo.s.-ible  to  save  llu'niselves,  unless 
God  would  work  a  miracle  fnr  them:  for  there  was  neither  pilot,  nor 
sea-eiiart,  neither  did  they  Icnow  where  the  river  entered  into  the  sea, 
neither  had  they  notice  of  it,  neither  had  they  anything-  wherewith  to 
make  saih,  nor  :\uy  store  of  eiu'queni,  whieh  is  a  i:iass  whereof  I  hey 
make  oakum,  which  i;rew  there;  and  that  whieh  they  found  they 
isaved  to  caulk  the  pimiaees  witlial ;  neither  had  tlu'^- anything  to 
pitcli  them  Vvithal;  neither  couhl  they  make  ships  of  sueli  sul)stance, 
but  that  an.y  storm  would  put  them  in  great  danger  :  and  they  feared 
much  it  would  fall  out  with  tlunu,  as  it  did  wiih  J'cni/Jn'/'t  tie  Xnr- 
vat.:,  Avliieh  was  cast  away  upon  that  C(>ast.  And  abuNc  all  other  it 
troubled  tliem  most,  that  they  could  find  no  maize:  for  without  it  they 
could  not  be  sustained,  nor  could  do  anything  tluit  they  luid  need  of. 
All  of  them  were  put  to  great  confusion.  Their  chief  remedy  was  to 
comn)it  themselves  to  (iod,  and  to  beseeeli  him  tlint  he  woidd  ilireet 
them  the  way  that  they  might  save  their  lives.  And  it  plea.sed  him 
of  iiis  goodness,  that  the  Indians  of  A7/ro  came  peaceably,  and  tuld 
them,  that  two  days'  journi'y  from  thence,  near  unto  thedreat  Illver, 
were  tv;o  towns,  whereof  the  Christians  had  no  notice,  and  thai  the 
province  was  called  Miitni/u,  and  w;;s  a  fruitful  soil :  that,  v.lulher  at 
this  j'reseut  there  w;is  any  maize  or  no,  they  knew  not,  because  ihey 
had  war  with  them  :  but  that  they  would  be  wvy  glad  witli  the  i'avor 
of  the  Christians  to  go  and  spoil  tliem.  'J'he  (io\ernor  .^eiit  a  cap- 
tain thither  with  horsemen  and  footmen,  and  the  Indians  of  yHio 
with  him.  lie  came  to  Minai/a,  and  found  two  great  towns  seats  d  in 
a  plain  and  open  soil,  half  a  league  dista.nt,  one  in  sight  of  iinother, 
and  in  them  he  took  many  Indians,  and  found  great  store  of  maize. 
Presently  he  lodged  in  one  of  them,  and  sent  word  to  the  (Jovernor 
what  1)0  had  found:  wherewith  they  were  all  exceeding  glad.  1'liey 
departed  from  Xilco  in  the  beginning  of  December;  and  all  that  v/ay, 
and  before  from  ('Inhtiid,  they  endured  much  trouble:  for  they  l)a^^(.d 
through  many  water.«,  ami  many  times  it  rained,  with  a  northern  wind, 
and  was  exceeding  cold,  so  that  tlusy  were  in  the  open  field  with  Avater 
over  and  underneath  them:  and  when  at  the  end  of  their  day's  jour- 
ney, they  found  dry  ground  to  rest  upon,  they  gave  great  tlninhs  to 


EXl'EDITJiiN  OF  IIKRXAXIK*  (lE  SOTO. 


20:> 


God.    ^\'itll  this  tnnilili.'  almost  all  the  Indianr.  that  sorvcl  tini.i  ilit!! 
And  after  they  were  in  Mhci/it^  many  Christians  al.-  >  diod 


ail' 


tJK 


mo.st  part  wore  sick  of  great  and  dangerous  disease.;,  wiiieii  had  ;; 
qjico  of  the  lethar!j.'y.  At  this  place  died  Amir' a-  i!r  V,iy,,n:r, /..a. 
and  two  Tdrtngucsc  of  Khax,  which  \vere  very  near  him:  wliieh  wert 
Liethren,  and  by  their  surname  called  Sotia.  1'he  ('hi'i>tians  h.dired 
in  one  of  the  towns  which  they  liked  best,  wliieh  was  fence  1  about, 
and  distant  a  ((uarter  of  a  league  from  the  (Ireat  Kiver.  Tli-  r.iaii'.i 
that  was  in  the  other  town  was  brought  thitlar;  and  in  all  ir  v,a.- 
osteenied  to  be  six  thousand  hanegs  or  bushels.  And  tliere  v/as  the 
best  timber  to  make  ships  that  they  had  seen  in  all  the  lan.d  (i( 
Florlila  ;  wherefore  all  of  them  gave  <<od  great  th:inl-:s  fnr  sn  singulai 
a  favor,  and  Impe'd  that  that  v.hich  they  desired  v.nr.M  take  efiect. 
which  was,  that  they  might  .safely  be  cimducted  into  tLo  land  uf  the 
Christians. 

As  soon  as  thoy  came  to  Mimujn^  the  Covernor  conimamled  them 
to  gather  all  the  chains  togellier,  which  every  otie  had  to  leail  Indians 
in;  and  to  gather  all  the  imn  which  they  had  for  tiieir  p-rovidnii,  and 
all  the  rest  that  was  in  the  camp:  and  to  set  up  afurge  to  n',;d:e  nails, 
and  connnanded  them  to  cut  down  timlier  for  the  lirigaiitiuis.  And 
a  I'ortuguese  of  C'liffi,  who  having  been  a  iirisoner  in  F :,  had 
learned  to  saw  timber  with  a  long  saw,  which  for  saich  purpnses  they 
had  carried  with  them,  did  teacli  others,  Mdiich  helped  him  to  .-^av, 
timbt'r.  And  a  6'«/i( /■<.<(■,  win 'Ui  it  pleased  <iiiil  to  preserve  ifur  with- 
out him  they  had  never  C"nie  out  of  the  country,  for  tliere  was  nevei 
unnther  that  could  make  s'lips  but  he),  with  four  or  live  other  lli^i  njjdu 
carpenters,  wdiich  hewed  his  planks  and  other  timbers,  made  the 
bi'igantines  :  and  two  calkers,  the  one  of  Clau  rn,  (\ig  other  of  >SWr- 
Jini'd,  did  calk  then;  with  the  tow  of  an  lierl)  like  lieni]i,  v.iiereoi 
before  I  have  made  nu'Ution,  which  there  is  named  cne'|Uer..  And 
because  there  was  not  enough  of  it,  they  calk"d  them  with  the  flax 
of  the  country,  and  with  the  mantles,  which  they  raveled  fir  that 
purpose.  A  cooper  which  llie}'  had  among  them  fell  ,sick,  and  v.'as  tit 
the  point  of  death  :  and  there  was  none  other  that  had  any  skill  iu 
that  trade  :  it  pleased  (lod  to  sejid  him  his  health..  And  alb.it  he 
was  very  weak,  and  couM  not  labor,  yet  iifteen  days  before  they  de- 
parted, he  made  fir  every  brigantine  two  half  hog.-head^,  which 
the  mariners  call  i|uarterets,  because  four  of  them  hold  ;i  pipe 
of  Mater.  The  Indians  whiidi  dwelt  two  days'  journey  above  tin 
river  in  ;i  province  called  Ta<jicnuif< ,  arid  likc^wisc  tluLse  of  Xihj  uu'l 


f 


i'i    !i 


204 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTION'S  OF  LOUISIANA. 


<iv(it'"//a,  and  others  tlieir  iieiglibors  seeing  tlic  brigantincs  in  making, 
"liinking,  liecause  tlioir  places  of  refuge  arc  in  the  water,  that  they 
were  to  go  to  seek  them,  and  heoauso  the  Governor  demanded  man- 
tles of  them,  as  necessary  for  sails,  came  many  times,  and  brought 
many  mantles,  and  great  store  of  fish.  And  for  certain  it  seemed 
iliat  (lod  was  willing  to  favor  tlicm  in  so  great  necessity,  moving  the 
minds  of  the  Indians  to  bring  them  :  for  to  go  to  take  them,  they 
were  never  abh;.  For  in  the  town  where  they  were,  as  soon  as  win- 
ter came,  they  were  so  enclosed  and  compassed  with  water,  that  they 
could  ;si>  no  farther  Ity  land,  than  a  league,  and  a  league  and  a  half. 
And  if  thi;y  would  go  fartiier,  they  could  carry  no  hor.-^cs,  and  without 
them  they  were  not  able  to  fight  ^\ith  the  Indians,  because  they  were 
many  :  and  so  many  for  so  many  on  foot  they  had  the  advantage  of 
fliem  by  water  and  by  land,  because  they  were  more  apt  and  lighter, 
and  by  reason  of  the  disposition  of  the  country,  which  was  according 
to  their  desire  for  the  use  of  their  war.  They  brought  also  some 
oords,  and  those  Vvdiich  wanted  for  cables  were  made  of  the  barks  of 
mulbei'ry  trees.  They  made  stirrups  of  wood,  and  made  anchors  of 
rheir  stirrujvs.  In  the  month  of  March,  when  it  had  rained  a  month 
before,  the  river  grew  so  big  that  it  came  to  Xilro^  whieli  was  nine 
leagues  of:  and  on  the  other  side,  the  Indians  said,  that  it  reached 
other  nine  leagues  into  the  land.  In  the  town  where  the  Christians 
were,  whicli  was  somewhat  high  ground,  where  they  could  best  go, 
tlic  water  reached  to  the  stirrups.  They  made  certain  rafts  of  tim- 
ber, and  laid  many  boughs  upon  them,  whereon  they  set  their  horses, 
and  in  the  houses  they  did  the  like.  ]>ut  seeing  that  nothing  pre- 
vailed, they  wi:nt  up  to  the  lofts  :  and  if  they  went  out  of  the  houses, 
it  was  in  canoes,  or  on  horseback  in  those  places  where  the  ground 
was  highest.  80  they  ve-  e  two  months,  and  could  do  nothing,  during 
which  time  the  river  decreased  not.  The  Indians  ceased  not  to  come 
unto  the  brigantines  as  the^'  were  wont,  and  came  in  canoes.  At  that 
time  the  (lovernor  feared  they  would  set  upon  him.  lie  commanded 
his  men  to  take  an  Indian  secretly  of  those  that  came  to  the  town, 
and  to  stay  him  till  the  rest  were  gone  :  and  they  took  one.  The 
(lovernor  commanded  him  to  be  put  to  torture,  to  make  him  confess 
ivhether  the  Indians  did  practice  any  treason  or  no.  He  confessed 
rhat  the  caciques  of  jVilco,  Gmidiojja,  and  Taijiianatc,  and  others, 
■ivhich  in  all  were  about  twenty  caciques,  with  a  great  number  of 
people,  determined  to  come  upon  him ;  and  that  three  days  before, 
they  would  send  a  great  present  of  fish  to  cover  their  great  treason 
ii\v\  malice,  and  on  the  very  day  they  would  send  some  Indians  before 


) 


EXl'KDlTKiN  OF  lIKHNANItO  i)F,  S(iT«(. 


20. 


, 


witli  iindtlior  proseiit.     Aiul  those,  witli  tlio.-<o  wliicli  wcro  our  ^*l:lvo^•. 
whicli  Wfiv  of  tlieir  ooiispinicy  also,  should  set  the  lumsc'^  on  iiiv,  auti 
lirst  lit'  all  possess  themselves  of  the  laiuvs  which  stnod  at  the  dooi> 
of  the  Imuses ;  and  the  cat'if|Uos,  with  all  tlieir  men,  should  he  near 
the   town    in    ambush    in   the   Avood,   and   when    they   saw   tln'   tin 
kindled,  should  come,  and  make  an  end  of  the  concpiest.     The  (<><- 
vernor  commamled  the   Indian  to  be   kept  in  a   chain,  and  the  self- 
same day  that  he  spoke  of,  there  came  thirty  Indians  with  tish.      lie 
commanded  their  right  hands  to  be  cut  oiV,  and  sent  them  so  back  t" 
the  Cacique  of  (liiivhnijn^  whoso  men  they  were,     lie  sent  him  wuril 
that  he  and  the  rest  should   come  when   they  would,  fur  he  desird 
nothing  more,  and  that  he  should  know,  that  they  thought  not  ai\y- 
thiug  which  he  knew  not  before  they  thought  of  it.     Hereupon  thev 
all  were  pu.t  in  a  very  great  fear  :    and  the  caciipics  of  .\7A'/  an<l 
T(ii/i'intii'i'  came  to  excuse  themsi'lves:  and  a  few  days  after  came  In 
of  (ii((ichoj/(t,  and  a  principal  Indian,  and  his  subject,  said,  he  knew 
by  certain  information,  that  the  caciipies  of  ^Y«7w  and   Taijuanitti 
were  agreed  to  come  and  make  war  upon  the  Christians.     As  soon  as 
the  Indians  came  from  X!ln>,  theClovernor  examined  them,  and  they 
confessed  it  was  true.     lie  delivered  them  presently  to  the  principal 
men  of  Gnm-lioya,  which  drew  them  out  of  the  town  and  killed  them. 
Another  day  came  some  from   TayiKUiutc,  and  confessed  it  likewise. 
The  (Jovernor  commanded  their  right  hands  and  noses  to  bo  cut  oil, 
and  sent  them  to  the  cacirjuo,  wherewith  they  of  (iwichi'ija  remained 
very  well  contented  :  and  they  came  oftentimes  with  presents  of  man- 
tles and  fish,  and  hogs,  which  bred  in  the  country  of  some  .swine  that 
were  lost  by  the  way  the  last  year.     As  soon  as      ic  waters  were 
.slaked,  they  persuaded  the  Governor  to  send  to   T     lanutc.     They 
came  and  brought  canoes,  wherein  the  footmen  wert    conveyed  down 
the  river,  and  a  captain  with  horsemen  went  by  land;  and  the  Inditms 
of  (luaclioija,  which  guided  him   till  they  came  to    Taywinnlr^  as- 
saulted the  town,  and  took  many  men  and  women,  and  mantles,  which 
with  those  that  they  had  already  were  sufficient  to  supply  their  want 
The  brigantines  being  finished  in   the  month   of  June,  the  Indian.^ 
having  told  us  that  the  river  increased   but  once  a  year,  when  the 
sn(jws  did  melt,  in  the  time  wherein  I  mentioned  it  had  already  in- 
creased, being  now  in  summer,  and  having  not  rained  a  long  tin)e,  it 
pleased  God  that  the  flood  came  up  to  the  town  to  seek  the  brigan- 
tines, from  whence  they  carried  them  by  water  to  the  river.     AVhicl:. 
if  they  had  gone  by  land,  had  been  in  danger  of  breaking  and  split- 
ting their  keels,  and  to  be  all  undone  ]  because  that  for  want  of  iron, 


■''•i 


200 


IIISTDIUCAI,  ('OI.LKCTIDNS  OF  LollSlANA. 


J"  , 

I    i 


I  ) 


the  s]i!k('s  woro  short,  nml  llu'  ]il;inl<s  aiirl  tiiulior  wen-  very  v,-c:ik. 
Tlio  Itnliaiis  (if  Miii"//ii,  diiriiiL''  tin;  time  that  they  Wire  tlirii!  caiue 
ti)  so'vr  them  (lii'in,!:;  ih-ivcu  t'lcnniiito  by  necessity)  tlint  dCthi'  maize 
whii'h  llicy  had  taken  iVeiii  them,  they  'woiihl  bestow  some  crumbs 
ui'oii  llitMii,  ami  because  (he  country  was  fertile,  ami  the  jieuplo  useil 
to  f'cil  of  maize,  ami  (he  Christians  had  jj-oftt'u  till  from  them  that 
tliey  had,  and  (he  peoj^le  wore  many,  they  wero  not  abh;  to  sustain 
them--elves,  Those  wliich  camo  to  tlio  town  were  so  weak  and  fieble, 
that  thev  had  no  llesh  left  <iii  tlieir  bones  :  and  many  came  and  died 
near  llie  town  for  ]Mire  hiniper  anil  w<'akn(>ss.  Th(!  (lovernor  com- 
manded upon  ;.n'ii'Vous  puni-hments  to  t;ive  them  no  mai/.e.  Vet, 
when  (liey  saw  that  the  hogs  wanted  it  not,  and  that  tlu'y  had  yieldeil 
themselves  to  servo  them,  atid  considerinir  their  misery  and  wretched- 
ness, having  pity  of  them,  tli(\y  gave  them  part  of  the  mai/e  A\hic]i 
they  had.  And  when  the  time  of  their  end>arkment  came,  there  was 
not  snilieient  t(>  serve  their  own  tiuais.  That  which  there  was,  they 
put  into  the  briganlines,  and  into  great  canoe-'  tied  two  and  two  to- 
trether.  They  shipped  twenty-two  of  the  best  horses  that  were  in 
the  camp,  (he  rest  they  made  dried  llesh  of;  and  dressed  the  hogs 
which  tiiey  had  in  like  manner.  Thoy  departed  from  Mln<>i/a  the 
-second  day  of  duly,  1.")4o. 

'I'iie  day  before  they  departed  from  Mhinijn,  (hey  determined  to 
dismiss  all  the  men  and  women  of  the  country,  which  they  had  de- 
tained as  slaves  to  servi^  them,  save  some  liundred,  little  more  or  loss, 
which  the  (iovernor  embarked,  and  others  whom  it  pleased  him  to 
permit.  And  because  there  wero  many  men  of  ([uality,  whom  h.o 
could  not  deny  tha*'  which  iie  granted  to  others,  he  used  a  policy, 
>aying,  that  they  might  servo  them  as  long  as  thoy  wero  in  the  rivor, 
but  when  they  came  to  the  sea,  they  must  send  them  away  for  want 
of  water.  bcL-ause  they  had  but  few  vessels.  Tie  told  his  friends  in 
secret,  that  they  should  carry  theirs  to  Xntvn  JCspana  :  and  all 
thos(>  whom  he  bare  no  good-will  unto  (which  were  the  greater  num- 
ber) ignorant  of  that  which  was  hidden  from  tiiem,  which  afterward 
time  di-eovered,  thinking  it  inhuuianity  for  so  little  time  of  service,  in 
reward  of  (he  great  service  that  they  had  done  them,  to  carry  them 
with  them,  to  leave  them  slaves  to  other  men  out  of  their  own  coun- 
tries, Ifft  live  hundred  men  and  women  ;  amon;^'  whom  ',vi  I'l'  many 
1    girls,  which    spake  and  understood   the    SpaTiisli  tongue. 


•JOys  an 

The  m  ■• 
pas>i"i;  ; 


of  them  did  nothing  but  weep;  which  moved  great  coni- 
.-ei.i:iir  that  all  of  them  M'itli  l:ood•^viU  would  have  bec^nnc 


i;M';.|ir!  inN  ur  nKiiNANHd   HK  SoTO. 


•J(»' 


iiri>tiaii-, 


\\''\V. 


1 1   Ml  Stat 


.f 


lilTilitliill, 


Til 


'IV  V.I  ■Hi   t'lMiii 


JA 


'/('W/(/     tlu''. 


iiiii 


h'L'il    iiml  t\wii(y-t\v(»  J^ji.ui 


lai'MS   Ml 


■V''n    iM'i.aii- 


v.t'li    iiKiil',  save  that  tlie  planks   wen-  tliiu,  1 


H'causo 


iiail 


tllK'.- 

■\V(.'n.!  s'p'i't,  aiiil  v,Tro  not  pifclKMl,  nor  IkhI  any  dfuks  In  kvrp  the 
watvi-  iVnin  ciuiiiiiLr  in.  Intcad  nf  ilrcks  tliry  laiil  plank-,  w  Ip'ivnii 
tilt  iniriiUTs  nii;;iit  run  to  (rim  tlioir  sails,  an^l  t!u;  jn'oplc  miulit  re- 
fresh tlu'in-i'lvrs  ahiive  and  Ih'Iow.  I'Ik;  (Juvciai'ir  nia'K'  his  captains, 
au'l  ii-ive  to  every  one  his  lirigaiitiiie,  anil  look  their  (latli  anil  their 
Avunl,  that  thry  wmild  iil^'y  him,  until  tin  y  eanio  to  tin;  laml  i>(  the 
Clu'i- 'ian-.  'i'lie  (iovernor  tonk  one  ut"  thr  hri^'aniincs  tor  liini>elf; 
which  he  bi'-t  liked.  The  same  day  that  thry  drpartrd  iVoni  .]/'ii>>//if^ 
thry  pi-scd  hy  (Inu'lu'jd^  where  the  Indians  tarried  I'ur  them  in 
eanoe<  hy  the  river.  Ami  on  the  shore,  they  had  made  a  prrat  arbor 
v>ith  honuhs.  They  desired  him  to  come  on  shore  j  but  ho  oxeused 
!!im>e!r,  an'l  so  went  along.  The  Indians  in  their  canoes  aerompanied 
li'iu  ;  and  eoiniii-'  where  an  arm  of  the  river  ileelined  on  the  ri^iht 
hand,  th'V  >aid  that  the  Province  of  (Junjitlhi.  was  near  unin  that 
place,  and  impnrtunod  the  (iovernor  to  set  upon  him,  and  that  they 
w<udd  aid  him.  And  because  they  had  said  that  lie  dwidt  thr'e  days' 
journey  down  the  river,  the  Governor  supposed  that  they  had  plotted 
some  treason  a^i;;iinst  him,  and  there  left  tlRUi;  and  went  down  with 
the  Lii'eatest  force  of  the  water.  The  cunviit  was  very  stmn::',  and 
with  the  lulji  (f  oar.s,  they  went  very  .swiftly.  The  (irst  day  they 
land.'d  in  a  wood  on  the  left  hand  of  the  river,  and  at  night  tln!y 
Miilnlrew  themselves  to  the  brigantines.  The  next  day  they  camo  to 
a  town  wliere  they  went  on  shore,  and  the  people  that  was  in  it  durst 
not  t.irrv.  A  vronian  that  they  took  there  being  I'xamiiied,  saiil,  that 
the  tn\vn  belonged  to  a  caciipie  named  IIu(i!«iir,  subject  to  (Ji'i]/tilfa, 
audi  that  iJ/',',/ii/i'(i  tarried  for  them  below  in  the  river  with  many  men. 
Certain  horsemen  went  thither,  and  found  some  houses,  wherein  was 
much  maize.  Immediately  more  of  them  went  thither  and  tarried 
there  one  day,  and  which  they  did  beat  out,  and  took  as  much  maize 
as  they  needed.  While  they  were  there,  many  Iiuilans  came  fro.n 
the  nether  part  of  the  river,  and  on  the  other  side  right  against  th';m 
somewhat  carele,<sly  set  themselves  in  order  to  light.  The  (Iovernor 
sent  in  two  canoes  the  cro.^sbowmen  that  he  had,  and  as  many  more 
as  could  go  in  them.  They  ran  away,  and  seeing  the  Spaniard-  cnuld 
not  overtake  them,  th.y  returned  back,  and  touk  courage;  ami  com- 
ing nearer,  making  an  outcry,  they  threatened  them  :  awd  a-  .  ^m  a-' 
they  departed  thence,  they  wont  after  them,  some  iu  cauues,  au'l  some 


in 


::j| 


208 


lIlSTdUK  Al,  rm-LKCTIoXS  (IF  LdLISIANA. 


by  ImikI  iilnrif^  t1\o  river;  ami  nvttiiii:  bcforo,  coiniiii^  to  a  town  tliat 
stood  )iy  tlio  river's  side,  they  joined  idtouctlier,  making  a  ,^liow  that 
they  wouhl  tarry  tliere.  Kvery  brigantino  towed  a  eanoc  fastened  to 
their  sterns  for  their  partieuhir  servieo.  I'resently  tliere  entered  men 
into  every  one  of  them,  whieh  made  the  Indians  to  tly,  and  biirneil 
the  town.  The  same  (hiy  they  presently  huwU'd  in  a  ureat  field,  where 
the  Indians  durst  not  tarry.  The  next  day  there  were  gathered  to- 
gether an  hundred  eanoes,  among  whieh  were  some  tliat  earried  sixty 
and  seventy  men,  and  tlie  ])rineipal  men's  canoes  had  their  tilts,  and 
plumes  of  white  and  red  feathers  for  their  ensigns  :  and  they  came 
within  two  ero.ssbow  shots  of  the  brigantines,  and  sent  three  Indians 
in  a  small  canoe  with  a  feigned  message  to  view  the  manner  of  the 
brigantines,  and  what  weapons  they  had.  And  coming  to  the  side 
of  the  (.iovcrnor's  brigantine,  one  of  the  Indians  entered,  and  said  : 

"  That  the  Cacique  of  (Jiiiijulfa,  his  lord,  sent  him  his  commenda- 
tions, and  did  let  him  understand,  that  all  that  the  Indians  of 
Gunfh'n/a  had  told  him  concerning  himself,  was  false,  and  that  they 
had  incensed  him,  liecause  they  were  his  enemies;  that  he  was  his 
servant,  and  should  find  him  so." 

The  Governor  answered  him,  that  he  believed  all  that  he  said  was 
true,  and  willed  him  to  tell  him  that  he  esteemed  his  friendship  very 
much.  "With  this  answer  they  returned  to  the  place  where  the  rest 
in  tlieir  canoes  were  waiting  for  them,  and  from  thence  all  of  them 
fell  down,  and  came  near  the  Spaniards,  shouting  aloud,  and  threaten- 
ing of  them.  The  Governor  sent  John  <.lc  (iiir.man,  which  had  been 
a  captain  of  footmen  in  Florida,  with  fifteen  armed  men  in  canoes  to 
make  them  give  way.  As  soon  as  the  Indians  saw  them  come 
towanls  them,  they  divided  themselves  into  two  parts,  and  stood  still 
till  the  Spaniards  came  nigh  them,  and  when  they  were  came  near 
them,  they  joined  together  on  both  sides,  taking  Julni  ilc  (licmttn  in 
tlie  middle,  and  them  that  came  lirst  with  him,  and  with  great  fury 
boarded  them  :  and  as  their  canoes  were  bigger,  and  many  of  them 
leaped  into  the  water  to  stay  them,  and  to  lay  hold  on  the  canoes  of 
the  Spaniards,  and  overwhelm  them  ;  so  presently  they  overwhelmed 
them.  The  Christians  fell  into  the  water,  and  with  the  weight  of 
their  armor  sunk  down  to  the  bottom  ;  and  some  few,  that  by  swim- 
ming or  holding  by  the  canoe  could  have  saved  themselves,  with 
oars  and  staves  whieh  they  had,  they  struck  them  on  the  head  and 
make  them  sink.  When  they  of  the  brigantines  saw  the  overthrow, 
though  they  went  about  to  succor  them,  yet  through  the  current  of 


i:.\i'i:i>iTi(>N  or  iikknando  di;  .-otk. 


209 


the  river  they  niuM  imt  irn  bai'lc.  I'dur  S|i:iiii;irils  llcil  to  tlii'  luiL':!!!- 
tiiio  tliut.  was  ucart'st,  tu  tliu  canous  ;  and  only  tlu'si?  c.-cajHid  of  tliii>o 
tliat  ciiiiie  atUDiii^  tlio  Imlians.  Tlirro  wiav  rlcveu  that  (lii>(l  tlicro  : 
aiiidiiif  wluuii  Jii/iii  ih  (!ii:man  was  (iiic,  and  a  sun  nt'  /A,,/  Curli-s^ 
called  .A////;  dr  I'lnyiif  :  tin;  rest  also  were  jiiTsons  dt' accnuiit  and  nun 
of  groat  courago.  Tluiso  that  I'st-apcd  liy  swiinniing  sa'nl  that  tiny 
saw  tin;  Indians  enter  the  canoo  (if  ./'j/m  tl,  (lir.niitn  at  the  stein  ><i 
one  of  their  canoes,  and  whether  they  earried  him  away  di'ad  or  alise 
they  could  not  certainly  tell. 

The  Indians,  seeing  that  they  had  got  the  victory,  took  such  cou- 
rage, that  tlu'y  assaulted  them  in  the  brigantines,  wliieh  they  durst 
not  do  liet'ure.  1'hey  came  first  to  that  hrigantiiu'  wherein  ('alilunn 
went  for  captain,  and  was  in  the  rearward  :  and  at  tlie  lirst  volley  of 
arrows  they  wounded  twenty-live  men.  There  were  oidy  four  arni'  d 
men  in  this  brigantine  ;  these  did  stand  at  the  brigantiiie's  side  to  de- 
feud  it.  Those  that  were  unarmeil,  seeing  how  they  hurt  them,  left 
their  oars  and  went  under  the  deck  :  whereupon  the  brigantine  began 
to  cross,  and  to  go  where  the  current  of  the  stream  carried  it.  Une 
of  the  armed  men  seeing  this,  without  the  commandment  of  the  cap- 
tain, made  a  footman  to  tida;  an  oar  and  stot'r  the  brigantini',  he  staiid- 
inji;  before  him  and  defending  him  with  his  target.  The  Indians  canui 
no  nearer  than  a  bowshot,  from  whence  they  ofl'ended  and  were  unt 
ott'ended,  receiving  no  hurt :  for  in  every  brigantiiu>  was  but  one 
crossbow,  and  those  which  we  had  were  very  mueh  out  of  order.  80 
that  the  Cliristians  did  nothing  else  but  stand  for  a  butt  to  receive 
their  arrows.  Having  left  this  brigantine  they  went  to  another,  aii'l 
fought  with  it  half  an  hour ;  and  so  from  one  to  another  they  fought 
with  them  all.  The  Christians  had  mats  to  lay  under  them,  which 
were  double,  and  so  dose  and  strong,  that  no  arrow  went  through 
them.  And  as  soon  as  the  Indians  gave  them  leisure,  they  fenced 
the  brigantines  with  them.  And  the  Indians  seeing  that  they  could 
not  shoot  level,  shot  their  arrows  at  random  up  in  the  air,  which  fell 
into  the  brigantines,  and  hurt  some  of  the  nu:n  :  and  not  therewith 
contented,  they  sought  to  get  to  them  whieh  were  in  tlie  canoes  with 
the  horses.  Those  of  the  brigantines  environed  them  to  defend  them, 
an<l  took  them  among  them.  Thus  seeing  themselves  much  vexed  by 
them,  and  so  wearied  that  they  could  no  longer  endure  it,  they  deter- 
mined to  travel  all  the  nirdit  following,  thinking  to  get  beyond  the 
country  of  (Jin'i/oltd,  and  that  they  would  leave  thcTU  :  but  when  they 
thought  least  of  it,  supposing  that  they  had  now  left  them,  they  heard 
15 


I 
I 


Ml 

m 


,' 


210 


IIlSTOItlCAL  niLLKCTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


very  near  tlicm  so  jfrciit  outcrios,  that  tlioy  inadu  them  (loaf,  and  so 
tln'y  folldwod  lis  all  that  iii^ht,  and  the  next  <Iay  till  iKmn,  Ity  which 
timo  wo  were  fonu!  into  tin-  (Miuntry  ui"  others,  whdni  they  doind  to 
use  us  after  the  same  nianni'r;  and  so  they  did.  The  men  of  (Jni</(i/fn 
returned  homo;  and  the  other  in  lifty  canoes  foujrht  with  us  a  whole 
day  and  a  niplit;  and  they  entered  one  of  the  liri<_[antines,  that  came 
in  tho  rearwanl,  l>y  tlu^  canoe  which  she  had  at  her  stern,  and  took 
away  a  woman  which  they  found  in  it,  and  afterwards  hurt  some  of 
the  men  in  tho  brigantine:;.  Those  which  came  with  the  horses  in 
the  canoes,  bcin<5  wearied  with  rowing  night  and  lay,  lingered  be- 
hind; and  presently  tho  Indian.s  came  upon  them,  and  they  of  tho 
brigantines  tarried  for  them.  Tho  (Jovernor  resolved  to  go  on  shore 
and  kill  the  horses,  because  of  the  slow  way  which  they  madu  be- 
cause of  them.  As  soon  as  they  saw  a  place  convenient  fjr  It,  they 
went  thither  and  killed  the  hor.ses,  and  brought  the  tlesh  <-f  tliem  to 
dry  it  on  board.  Four  or  five  of  them  remained  on  shcr«  olive ;  the 
Indians  went  unto  them,  after  tho  Spaniards  wore  emoarked.  The 
horses  were  not  acquainted  with  them,  and  began  to  neigh,  and  run 
up  and  down  in  such  sort,  that  the  Indians,  for  fear  of  them,  leaped 
into  the  water;  and  getting  into  their  canoes  wont  after  the  brigan- 
tiiies,  shooting  cruelly  at  them.  They  followed  us  that  evening  and 
the  night  following  till  the  next  day  at  ten  of  tho  clock,  and  then  re- 
turned up  the  river.  I'rcsently  from  a  sm  1'  town  that  stood  upon 
the  river  carae  seven  canoes,  and  followed  us  a  little  way  down  the 
river,  shooting  at  us  :  but  seeing  they  were  so  few  that  they  could  do 
us  but  little  harm,  they  returned  to  their  town.  From  thence  for- 
ward, until  they  canio  to  the  sea,  they  had  no  encounter.  They 
sailed  down  the  river  seventeen  days  :  which  may  be  two  hundred  and 
fifty  leagues'  journey,  little  more  or  less :  and  near  unto  the  sea,  the 
river  is  divided  into  two  arms;  eacli  of  them  is  a  league  and  a  half 
broad. 

JIalf  a  league  before  they  came  to  the  sea,  they  came  to  anchor  to 
rest  themselves  there  about  a  day;  for  they  were  very  weary  with 
rowing,  and  out  of  heart.  For  by  the  space  of  many  days  they  had 
eaten  nothing  but  parched  and  sodden  maize;  which  they  had  by 
allowance  every  day  an  headpiece  full  by  strike  for  every  three  men. 
While  they  rode  there  at  anchor  seven  canoes  of  Indians  came  to  set 
upon  those  which  they  brought  with  them.  The  Governor  com- 
manded armed  men  to  go  aboard  them,  and  to  drive  them  farther  off. 
They  came  also  against  them  by  land  through  a  thick  wood,  and  a 


KXl'KDITION  OP  HKUNANMto  DK  SOTO. 


•Jll 


inoori!*li  ground,  ami  had  staves  with  vrry  Auwy  toik'"d  In  ads  iiiadi 
of  tlic  hones  of  llshos,  and  fou|.'ht  very  valiantly  wiili  ii»,  which  went 
out  to  oueouiitcr  them.  And  tlii;  other  that  caino  in  i-ano.'s  with  tlu'ir 
arrows  staid  for  fhcni  that  cainti  airainst  thoni,  and  at  their  coniiiii; 
both  those  that  were  on  laml,  and  tlnKc  in  the  canoes  wounded  .soim 
of  us:  and  seeing  us  come  near  them,  they  turned  their  hacks,  and 
like  swift  horses  among  footmen  got  away  from  us;  making  some 
returns,  and  reuniting  themselves  together,  going  not  pa>t  a  how  sliot 
ofl":  for  in  so  retiring  they  shot,  without  receiving  any  hurt  of  the 
Christians.  For  though  tlu'y  had  some  hows,  yet  they  could  not  use 
them;  and  brake  thoir  arms  with  rowing  to  overtake  them.  And  the 
ludians  easily  in  their  compass  went  with  their  canoes,  staying  ami 
wheeling  about  as  it  had  been  in  a  skirmish,  j)erceiving  that  those 
that  came  against  them  could  not  offend  them.  And  the  more  they 
strove  to  come  near  them,  the  more  hurt  they  received.  As  .soon  us 
they  hud  driven  them  farther  oft",  they  returned  to  the  brigantines. 
They  stayed  two  duys  there:  tmd  departed  from  thenee  unto  the  place 
where  the  arm  of  the  river  entereth  into  the  sea.  They  sounded  in 
the  river  near  unto  the  sea,  and  found  forty  farthoms  water.  They 
ataid  there.  And  the  Governor  commanded  all  and  singular  persons 
to  speak  their  minds  touching  their  voyage?,  whether  it  were  best  to 
cro.ss  over  to  Aloin  Uspuiia,  committing  them.selvcs  to  the  high  sea. 
or  whether  they  should  keep  along  the  coast.  There  were  sundry 
opinions  touching  this  mutter:  wherein  Jo/in  /hnniscD,  which  presumed 
much,  and  took  much  upon  him  in  the  knowledge  of  navigation,  and 
matters  of  the  sea,  although  he  had  but  little  experience,  moved 
the  Governor  with  his  talk :  and  his  opinion  was  seconded  by  some 
others.  And  they  affirmed,  that  it  was  much  better  to  pass  by  the 
high  sea,  and  cross  the  gulf,  which  was  three  of  four  parts  the  lesser 
travel,  because  in  going  along  the  coast,  they  went  a  great  way  about, 
by  reason  of  the  compass  which  the  land  did  make.  John  iJaiiiism 
said,  that  he  had  seen  the  sea-card,  aud  that  from  the  place  where  they 
were,  the  coast  ran  east  and  west  unto  liio  ilc  Ins  J'a/mxn;  and  from 
liio  lie  las  Falmiu  to  Kucva  Eapana  from  north  to  south :  and  therefore 
in  sailing  ahvuys  in  sight  of  lund  would  be  a  great  compassing  about 
and  spending  of  much  time ;  and  that  they  would  be  in  great  danger 
to  be  overtaken  with  winter  before  they  should  get  to  the  land  of 
the  Christians :  and  that  in  ten  or  twelve  days'  space,  having  good 
weather,  they  might  be  there  in  crossing  over.  The  most  part  were 
against  this  opinion,  and  said  that  it  was  more  safe  to  go  along  the 
coast,  though  they  staid  the  longer :  because   their  ships  were  very 


.   I 


nil 


I 


I   i 


il-j 


iriSTdlllCAl-  ((if.l.KCTloNH  01'  f.OLMMANA. 


weak  ami  witlmiit  (Iccks,  su  tliaf  ii  ViTy  liftli-  ^^furin  was  I'linu;;!,  (n 
liist  tlii'iii  away:  ami  if  they  ••liniild  lie  liimlcrcil  willi  caltns,  nrfon- 
trary  weather,  through  tlu'  .Hiiiall  stnro  of  viwols  which  they  had  to 
tarry  water  ill,  they  .sIkhiM  likuwiso  tall  into  j.'riat  (laii;.'(T:  and  that 
althoULrh  the  ships  wero  such  as  they  nii,Ldit  vi'iiture  in  theni,;^et  hav- 
in^'  neitiier  ])ilnt  nor  sea-card  to  j/uiilt;  themselves,  it  was  no  j.'(in(l 
eouiis(d  to  cross  tile  j:ult'.  Tliis  opinion  was  conlirnied  l»y  the  ;.'re:itest 
part:  and  tliey  a^'rerd  to  go  alonj:  the  coast.  At  the  time  wlieroiu 
they  Hought  to  depart  from  thence,  tiie  cable  of  tiii'  anchor  of  the  (lo- 
vernor's  hrigantiiie  hrake,  and  the  anchor  remained  in  the  river.  And 
alheit  Miey  were  near  tin"  shore,  yet  it  was  so  deep,  that  the  diver*! 
diving  many  times  couiil  never  liml  it;  wdiieli  cansed  great  sadness  iu 
the  (iovornor,  and  in  all  thosis  that  went  with  him  in  his  hrigantinc: 
but  with  a  grindstone  whicli  they  had,  and  «'ertain  bridles  which 
remained  to  some  of  the  gentlemen,  and  men  of  worship  which  had 
horsi's,  they  made  a  weight  wiiich  served  instead  of  an  anchor.  'J'he 
iSth  of  duly  (l.')4;J)  they  went  forth  to  sea  with  fair  and  jirusperous 
weather  for  their  voyage.  And  seeing  that  they  were  gone  two  or 
three  leagues  from  the  shore,  the  captains  of  the  other  brigantinos 
overtook  them,  and  asked  the  (iovernor,  wdierefore  he  did  ])ut  otV  from 
the  shore'/  and  that  if  he  wouM  leave  tlu;  coast,  he  should  say  so; 
and  he  sliould  not  do  it  without  the  consent  of  all :  and  that  if  he  did 
'therwise,  they  would  not  follow  him,  but  that  every  one  would  do 
what  seemed  best  unto  himself.  The  (Iovernor  answered,  that  he 
would  do  nothing  without  their  eoun.sel,  but  that  he  did  bear  off  from 
the  land  to  sail  the  better  and  safer  by  night;  and  that  the  next  day 
when  time  served,  he  would  return  to  the  sight  of  land  again.  'J'hey 
sailed  with  a  reasonable  good  wind  that  day  and  the  night  foHnwing, 
and  the  next  day  till  evening  song,  always  in  fresh  water;  whereat 
they  wondered  much:  for  they  were  very  far  from  land.  1  kit  the 
force  of  the  current  of  the  river  is  so  great,  and  the  coast  there  is  so 
shallow  and  gentle,  tluit  the  fresh  water  enters  far  into  the  sea. 
That  evening  on  their  right  hand  they  saw  certain  creeks,  whither 
they  went,  and  rested  there  that  night:  where  John  Daniixco  with  his 
rcason.s  won  them  at  la,;t,  that  all  consented  and  agreed  to  commit 
themselves  to  the  main  sea,  alleging,  as  he  bad  done  before,  that  it 
was  a  great  advantage,  and  that  their  voyage  would  be  much  shorter. 
They  sailed  two  days,  and  when  they  would  have  come  to  sight  of 
land  they  could  not,  for  the  wind  blew  from  the  shore.  On  the  fourth 
day,  peeing  their  fresh  water  began  to  fail,  fearing  necessity  and 
danger,  thi'y  all  complained  of  Jo/iii  Danmru,  and  of  the  CJovernor 


KXl'KUITin.V  OF  IIKIINANDO  ItF.  S(.Tn. 


LM.'J 


ii 


tliat  t'lillowiul  liis  eminsol:  nntl  ovory  ono  of  tlic  iMjitniiiH  Kiitl,  that 
fli(  V  wniiM  tin  iiifirt'  pi  f'rotii  the  Nliorc,  tliiuiL'li  tin' <  lnvcnmr  \v(ii' 
wliitlicr  111' wiU'.ld.  It  jilcasi'd  (1(h|  tliat  tlic  wiinl  cliaiij^vil,  tlidU^rli  lnii 
a  liltl'' :  aiiij  at  tlio  I'lul  of  four  days  after  tlicy  liad  put  to  sea,  liciiij,' 
ulrciidy  destitute  of  water,  liy  furee  of  mwiiii^  tliey  ;:iit  within  si^dit  of 
hind,  and  with  ^Teiit  trouhlo  reenvered  it,  in  an  open  road.  'I'hai 
eveiiiiiL'  the  wind  caiiK!  to  the  south,  wliieh  nii  that  eoa^t  is  a  oriis> 
wind,  and  drove  the  hri;^antines  a;.'ainst  the  shore,  heeause  it  Mew  ver\ 
liard,  and  the  anehors  were  hO  weak,  that  tiiey  yielded  and  hei;an  t< 
heiiiL  1'lie  (IdveriKir  enmnianded  all  men  to  hap  iiitu  the  watrr,  and 
j.'oing  hotw'e»!en  them  ami  the  slmre,  and  thru-tin;^' the  hrij.'antines  iiite 
tliu  sea  us  soon  as  the  wave  was  pa>t,  they  saveil  tlnin  till  the  wiiii] 
ceased. 

In  the  bay  where  they  rod(>,  after  tlie  tempest  was  passed,  they 
went  nn  slmre,  and  with  mattoeks, which  they  had,  they  diu'ired  eertaii, 
pits,  whieli  <.'rew  full  of  frevh  water,  whore  tluy  iilled  all  the  ea>k- 
they  had.  The  next,  day  they  departed  thence,  and  sailed  two  day.-, 
and  entered  into  a  creek  like  nnto  a  pnol,  fi'iieed  frnm  tin'  soiitl. 
wind,  which  then  did  hhiw,  and  was  a^'ainst  theiu  ;  and  there  they 
stayed  four  days,  not  boinjr  able  to  fxet  out;  ami  when  the  sea  wa- 
calm  they  rowed  out.  They  .sailed  that,  day,  and  tnwanls  evenlnjj- 
the  wind  grew  so  strung  that  it  drove  thcni  on  the  shcro,  and  they 
were  snrry  that  they  had  jiut  forth  from  the  former  h.-irbur;  for  as 
siOon  as  night  approached,  a  storm  began  to  rise  in  the  sea,  and  tlu' 
wind  still  v.'axed  more  violent  with  a  tempest.  The  Itrigaiitines  lost 
one  ainither.  'J" wo  of  them,  which  bare  mure  into  the  sea,  entered 
iiit'i  an  arm  of  the  sea,  which  pierced  into  the  land  two  leagues  be 
yond  the  place  where  the  other.s  were  that  night.  The  five  which 
stayed  behind,  being  always  a  league  ami  half  a  league  the  one  from 
the  other,  met  togeth'.'r,  without  any  knowledge  the  one  of  the  other, 
in  a  wild  mad,  where  the  wind  and  the  waves  drove  them  on  shore; 
for  their  anchor.-!  did  straighten  and  came  home,  and  they  could  imt 
u.se  their  oars,  putting  seven  or  eight  men  to  every  one,  which  rowed 
to  seaward;  and  all  the  rest  leaped  into  the  Avater,  and  when  the  wav* 
was  pas.sed  that  drave  the  brigantino  on  shore,  they  thrust  it  again 
intn  the  sea  with  all  the  diligence  and  might  that  they  liiid.  Other.s, 
while  another  wave  was  incoming,  with  bowls  laved  out  the  water 
that  oame  in  overboard.  "While  they  were  in  this  tempest,  in 
great  fear  of  being  east  away  in  that  place,  from  midnight  forward 
they  cndure<l  an  intolerable  torment  of  an  infinite  swarm  of  mosiiuitoc.- 
ivhieh  fell  upon  them,  M'hich  as  soon  as  they  had  stung  thefli'sh,  it  ho 


I      ! 


214 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


infi'ctcd  it,  as  tliniigli  tlicy  had  been  vonoinous.  In  tlio  morniiii!;  tlio 
soa  was  assiiaircd  and  tlie  wind  slacked,  Imt  not  tlio  inosquitoos;  for 
tho  sails,  uliic-li  were  wliito,  scoiuud  black  with  them  in  the  morning. 
Those  which  rowed,  unless  others  kept  them  away,  were  not  able  to 
row.  Having  passed  the  fear  and  danger  of  the  storm,  beholding  the 
deformities  of  their  faces,  and  the  blows  which  they  gave  themselves 
to  drive  them  away,  one  of  them  laughed  at  another.  They  met  all 
together  in  the  creek  where  the  two  brigantines  were  whi?h  outwent 
their  fellows.  There  was  tV)und  a  scum  which  they  call  copec,  which 
the  sea  casteth  up,  and  it  is  like  pitch,  wherewith  in  some  places, 
wiierc  pitch  is  wanting,  they  pitch  their  ships;  there  they  pitched 
their  brigantines.  They  rested  two  days,  and  then  cftsoons  pro- 
eceded  on  their  voyage.  They  sailed  two  days  more,  and  landed  in  a 
bay  or  arm  of  the  sea,  where  they  stayed  two  days.  The  same  day 
that  they  went  from  thence  six  men  went  up  in  a  canoe  toward  the 
head  of  it,  and  could  not  see  the  end  of  it.  They  put  out  from 
thence  with  a  south  wind,  which  was  against  them ;  but  because  it 
was  little,  and  for  tho  great  desire  they  had  to  shorten  their  voyage, 
they  put  out  to  sea  by  the  force  of  oars,  and  for  all  that  made  very 
little  w^ay,  with  great  labor,  in  two  doys,  and  went  under  the  lee  of  a 
small  island  into  an  arm  of  the  sea,  which  compassed  it  about. 
While  they  were  there,  there  fell  out  such  weather,  that  they  gave 
<.Tod  many  thanks  that  they  found  out  such  an  harbor.  There  was 
groat  store  of  fish  in  that  place,  which  they  took  with  nets,  which 
they  had,  and  hooks.  Hero  a  man  cast  an  hook  and  a  lino  into  the 
sea,  and  tied  the  end  of  it  to  his  arm,  and  a  fish  caught  it,  and  drew 
him  into  the  water  unto  the  neck;  an<l  it  pleased  God  that  ho  re- 
membered himself  of  a  knife  that  he  had,  and  cut  the  line  with  it. 
There  they  abode  fourteen  days ;  and  at  the  end  of  them  it  pleased 
iJod  to  send  them  fair  weather,  for  which,  with  great  devotion,  they 
appointed  a  procession,  and  went  in  procession  along  the  strand,  be- 
seeching (iod  to  bring  them  to  a  land  where  they  might  serve  him  in 
better  sort. 

In  all  the  coast  wheresoever  they  digged  they  found  fresh  water; 
there  they  filled  their  vessels,  and  the  procession  being  ended,  em- 
barked themselves,  and  going  always  in  sight  of  the  shore  they  sailed 
six  days.  JiJm  /)i(iutsci>  said  that  it  would  do  well  to  bear  out  to 
jcaward  ;  for  he  had  seen  the  sea-card,  and  remembered  that  from  Rio 
lie  luA  Piiliniis  forward,  the  coast  did  run  from  north  to  south,  and 
thitherto  they  had  run  from  east  to  Avest,  and  in  his  opinion,  by  his 
reckoning,  Rio  ilc  Acs  I'aliiias  could  not  be  far  otf  from  where  they 


EXPEDITIOX  OF  ITKUN'ANDO  PK  SOTO. 


215 


wore.  That  same  night  thoy  put  to  sen,  ami  in  iho  ninniiiiL''  they  saw 
palm  leaves  floatinix,  ami  the  coast  which  ran  north  and  scutli.  I''idni 
miiMay  forward  they  saw  jrreat  mountains,  which  vuitil  then  they  had 
not  seen;  for  from  tliis  phice  tt)  Paniodc  Sjn'riUi  S<iiit<i,  where  they 
first  landed  in  FlnriJit,  was  a  very  plain  and  low  country;  and  1  here- 
fore  it  cannot  be  descried,  unless  a  man  comes  very  m'ar  it.  Uy  that 
which  tiiey  saw,  they  thought  they  had  overshot  Rio  ilf  /'n/riius  that 
night,  which  is  sixty  leagues  from  the  river  I'm  inn,  which  is  in 
Xiiria  Eapnna.  They  assemhled  all  together,  and  some  saiil  it 
was  not  good  to  sail  by  night,  lest  they  should  overshoot  the  river  of 
Paidii'i) ;  and  others  said,  it  was  not  well  to  los(!  tiiiu:  while  it  was 
favorable,  and  that  it  could  not  lie  so  near  that  tiny  should  pass  it 
that  night;  and  they  a-jireed  to  take  away  half  the  sails,  and  so  sail 
all  night.  Two  of  the  brigantines,  which  sailed  that  night  with  all 
their  sails,  b^-  lireak  of  day  liad  over.-hot  the  river  of  l\iiuiri>  without 
seeing  it.  Of  the  five  that  came  behind,  the  first  that  came  untd  it 
was  that  wherein  L'ahJrnin  Avas  captain.  A  quarter  of  a  league  be- 
fore they  came  at  it,  and  before  they  did  see  it,  tlii'y  saw  the  water 
niudd}',  and  knew  it  to  be  fresh  water ;  and  coming  right  against  the 
river,  they  saw  where  it  entered  into  the  sea,  tliat  the  water  liroke  upon 
a  shoal.  And  because  there  Avas  no  man  there  that  knew  it,  they 
were  in  doubt  whether  they  should  go  in,  or  go  idong;  and  they  re- 
solved to  go  in ;  and  before  they  came  into  the  current,  they  went 
close  to  the  shore,  and  entered  into  the  port.  And  as  soon  as  tliey 
were  come  in,  they  saw  Indian  men  and  women  appareled  lik(;  Hjian- 
iards,  A\hom  they  asked  in  what  country  they  wvw  'i  They  answered 
in  k!pani.sh,  that  it  was  the  river  of  Pininni^  and  that  the  town  of 
the  Christians  was  fifteen  leagues  up  within  the  land.  The  joy  that 
all  of  them  received  upon  this  news  cannot  suiliciently  be  expressed ; 
for  it  ,<eemed  unto  them  that  at  that  instant  they  were  born  again. 
And  many  went  on  shore  and  kisseil  the  ground,  and  kneeling  on 
their  knees,  with  lifting  up  their  hands  and  eyes  to  Heaven,  they  all 
cea.sed  not  to  give  (jod  thanks.  Those  wliich  came  after,  as  sonn  as 
they  saw  (\il(l( ran  come  to  an  ancli.tr  witli  his  brigantine  in  the 
river,  presently  went  thither,  and  came  into  the  haven.  The  other 
two  brigantines  which  had  oversliot  the  jilace,  jiut  to  .<ea  to  return 
back  to  seek  the  rest,  and  could  not  do  it,  because  the  wind  was  con- 
trary and  the  sea  grown;  they  were  afraid  of  being  cast  away,  and 
recovering  the  shore  tliey  cast  aiielinr.  Wiiilc  they  nde  there  u 
storm  anise,  and  seeing  that  they  could  nut  abide  there,  much  less 


n 


i 


IM 


II 


'I 


I 


:l 


16 


nrsTORTCAL  COLLKCTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


(iidiiro  at,  sea,  they  ivsolvcil  to  run  on  sliorc;  and  as  (lie  ])rigantiii('S 
wiTt'  hut  small,  so  did  tlicy  draw  ])ut  little  water;  and  wliere  tliey 
were  it  was  a  sandj  coast.  l{y  wliicli  oeeasiim  the  force  of  their  sails 
drove  them  on  shore,  without  any  hurt  of  them  that  were  in  them. 
As  those  that  Mere  in  the  port  of  J'aiiKco  at  this  time  were  in  great 
joy;  so  these  felt  !i  double  grief  in  their  hearts,  for  they  knew  not 
what  was  Income  of  their  fellows,  nor  in  what  country  they  were,  and 
feared  it  was  a  country  of  Indian  enemies.  They  landed  two  leagues 
below  the  ]iort ;  and  wdien  they  saw  themselves  out  of  the  danger  of 
tiie  sea,  every  one  took  of  that  which  he  had,  as  much  as  he  could  carry 
on  his  hack,  and  they  traveled  u))  into  the  country,  and  found  Indians, 
which  told  them  wdiere  their  fellows  were,  and  gave  them  good  enter- 
tainment;  wherewith  their  sadness  was  turned  into  joy,  and  they 
thanked  (iod  most  hunddy  for  their  deliverance  out  of  so  many 
dangers. 

From  the  time  that  they  put  out  of  Rio  (lran<li'  to  the  sen,  at 
their  departure  from  F/aritfa,  until  they  arrived  in  the  river  of  J'<(- 
jiwi),  was  lifty-two  days.  Thi'y  came  into  the  river  of  J'dinic)  the 
tL'Uth  of  Septmnber,  ir)4.'».  They  went  up  the  river  with  their  brig- 
antines.  They  traveled  four  days  ;  and  because  the  wind  Avas  but 
little,  and  many  times  it  served  them  not  because  of  the  many  turn- 
ings which  the  river  makcth,  and  the  great  current  drawing  them  up 
by  towing,  and  that  in  many  places;  for  this  cause  they  made  very 
In  tie  way  and  with  great  labor;  and  seeing  the  execution  of  tlu'ir  de- 
hire  to  be  def(>rred,  which  was  to  come  among  Christians,  and  to  sec 
the  celebration  of  divine  service,  which  so  long  time  they  had  not 
SITU,  they  left  the  brigantines  with  the  mariners,  and  went  by  land 
to  I'duuro.  All  of  them  were  appareled  in  deers'  skins  tanned  and 
dyed  black,  to  wit,  coats,  hose,  and  shoes.  ^V]len  they  came  to  l\i- 
mirii,  presently  they  Avent  to  the  church  to  ju'ay  and  give  (Iod  thanks 
that  so  miraculously  had  saved  them.  The  townsmen  which  before 
were  advertised  by  the  Indians,  and  knew  of  their  arrival,  carried 
some  of  them  to  their  houses,  and  entertained  them  whom  they  knew 
ami  had  acquaintance  of,  or  because  they  were  their  countrymen. 
The  Alcalde  Mayor  took  the  Governor  home  to  his  house:  and  com- 
manded all  the  rest,  as  soon  as  they  came,  to  be  lodged  six  and  six 
and  ton  and  ten,  according  to  the  ability  of  every  townsman.  And  all 
of  them  were  provided  for  b}-  their  hosts  of  many  hens,  and  bread  of 
maize,  and  fruits  of  the  country,  which  are  such  as  be  in  the  Isle  of 
Cuha,  whereof  before  I  have  spoken.  The  town  of  Pannco  may  con- 
tain about  seventy  families  j  the  most  of  their  houses  arc  of  lime  and 


KXPKDITION  OF  IlEKNAMm  l»i;  SOl'O. 


! 


HtoiU',  and  some  inailcof  tiniliLV,  and  all  df  \\u'Ui  aiv  tliatclnMl.    [|  i>  ;i 
poor  country,  and  tlicrc  is  ncitlirr  L'old  nor  silver  in  it.  'I'lie  inlinliitant- 


s  anil  s('r\anl-;. 


Ill'    nrllC: 


live  then;  in  threat  altnndanee  t.f  victual.^ 
have  not  almve  live  liundred  crowns  rent  a  year,  and  that  is  in  cotton 
clotlis,  lions,  and  maize,  wliicli  tlio  Indians  tlicir  servants  <lo  lm\c 
tlicni  for  trilnit(>.  Tliere  arrived  there  of  those  that  came  out  ol 
Floiiild,  {\\Yw.  hundred  and  eleven  Christians.  J'resently  I  he  .Xh'aldi 
Mayor  sent  one  of  the  townsmen  in  post  to  advertise  the  \'icer(n. 
J)nii  Aiitoiiiii  ilf  Miiii/o'it,  which  was  resident  in  M- .1 1'ro,  that  of  tie, 
people  that  went  with  Don  Fi  riHiiinnli)  lU  Solo  to  discover  and  con- 
fpicr  1- ior!(l(t  three  hundied  and  eleven  men  were  arrived  there,  that 
seeing  that  they  were  employed  in  his  majesty's  seivico  he  woidd  take 
some  order  to  provide  for  them.  Whereat  the  A'iceroy,  and  all  the 
itdial'itants  of  Mi.riio  wondered;  for  they  thou^iht  they  were  nii.- 
carried  because  they  had  traveled  so  far  within  the  main  land  of  Flo- 
riihi,  and  had  no  news  of  them  for  ,so  long  a  time:  and  it  seemed  a 
womh'rful  thing  unto  them,  how  they  could  save  themselves  so  Ion;;; 
among  iididels,  without  any  fort,  wherein  they  miglit  fortify  theui- 
selves,  and  without  any  other  succor  at  all.  1'rcseTitly  the  A'ieero_\ 
sent  a  warrant  wherein  he  commanded,  that  whithersoever  they  sent 
they  should  give  them  victuals,  and  as  many  Indiatis  for  their  car- 
riages as  tliey  needed  :  and  where  they  would  not  furnish  them,  they 
might  take  those  things  that  were  necessary  jierforce  without  incur- 
ring a"y  danger  of  law.  This  warrant  was  so  readily  oheyed  that  by 
the  way  before  they  came  to  the  towns  they  came  to  receive  thehi 
with  hens  and  victuals. 

From  J'oiniro  to  the  great  city  of  Ti  m!:<tihiii,  ]\li.iii<i,h  si.\t^ 
leagues;  and  other  sixty  from  Vdinn-u  to  the  port  <!<■  Vi ni  ('/■n;^  where 
they  take  shipping  for  Spdin,  and  those  that  come  from  S/kh'ii  do 
hind  to  go  for  ^'tn  ni  lC>'p<ii~ni.  1'hese  three  towns  stand  in  a  tri- 
angle: to  wit,  Viia  Cnr:  to  the  south,  I'unwo  to  the  north,  anil 
Mi.rlroio  the  west  sixty  leagues  asunder.  Tlie  country  is  so  iidiabited 
with  Indians  that  from  town  to  town  those  whicli  are  farthest  are  but 
.a  league  and  half  u  league  asunder.  Some  of  them  that  came  froi/i 
Floiiild  stayed  a  month  in  I'ditwo  to  rest  themselves,  others  lifteen 
clays,  and  every  one  as  long  as  he  listed:  for  there  was  none  that  showed 
a  sour  coimtenaucc  to  his  guests,  but  rather  gave  them  anything  that 
they  had,  and  seemed  to  be  grieved  when  they  took  their  leave.  ^Vliich 
was  to  be  believed;  for  the  victuals  which  the  Indians  do  pay  them 
for  tribute,  arc  more  than  they  can  spend:  and  in  that  town  is  no 
couinierce ;  and  there  dwelt  but  few  Spaniards  there,  and  they  wew 


:  i' 

i 

rf  I 


',(   I 


I 


I 


218 


nrSTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


;i( 


gliul  of  their  conipan}-.  'j'lic  Alcaklo  ^layor  dividetl  all  the  Euiporor's 
clotlios  which  lie  had  (which  there  they  pay  him  for  his  tribute) 
among  those  that  would  come  to  receive  them.  Those  which  had 
shirts  of  mail  left  were  glad  men ;  for  they  had  a  hof.se  for  one  shirt 
of  mail.  Some  horsed  themselves;  and  such  as  could  not  (which 
were  the  greatest  part)  took  their  journey  on  foot :  in  which  they 
were  well  received  of  the  Indians  that  wore  in  the  towns,  and  Letter 
served  than  they  could  have  been  in  their  own  houses,  though  they 
had  been  well  to  live.  For  if  they  asked  one  hen  of  an  Indian,  they 
brought  them  four  :  and  if  they  asked  any  of  the  country  fruit  though 
it  were  a  league  oil',  they  ran  presently  for  it.  And  if  any  Cliristian 
found  himself  evil  at  case,  they  carried  him  in  a  chair  from  one  town 
to  another.  In  whatsoever  town  they  came,  the  cacique,  by  an  In- 
dian which  carried  a  rod  of  justice  in  his  hand,  whom  they  call  Tapile, 
that  is  to  say  a  sergeant,  commanded  them  to  provide  victuals  for 
them,  and  Indians  to  boar  burdens  of  such  things  as  they  had,  and 
~uch  as  were  needful  to  carry  them  that  were  sick.  The  Viceroy  sent 
a  Portuguese  twenty  leagues  from  JAmro,  with  g"cat  store  of  sugar, 
raisins  of  the  sun,  con.serves,  and  other  things  lit  for  sick  folks,  for 
such  as  had  need  of  them  :  and  had  given  order  to  clothe  them  all  at 
the  I'hnporor's  charge.  And  their  approach  being  known  by  the  citi- 
zens of  Mexico,  they  went  out  of  the  town  to  receive  them  :  and  with 
great  courtesy,  requesting  them  in  favor  to  come  to  their  houses,  every 
one  carried  such  as  he  met  homo  with  him,  and  clothed  them  every 
one  the  liost  thoy  could  :  so  that  he  that  had  the  meanest  apparel,  it 
cost  a))0ut  thirty  ducats.  As  many  as  Avere  willing  to  come  to  the 
Viceroy's  house  he  commanded  to  be  appareled,  and  such  as  were  per- 
sons of  quality  sate  at  his  table :  and  there  was  a  table  in  his  house 
for  as  many  of  the  meaner  sort  as  would  come  to  it :  and  he  was  pre- 
sently informed  who  every  one  was,  to  show  him  the  courtesy  that  he 
deserved.  Some  of  the  conquerors  did  set  both  gentlemen  and  clowns 
at  their  own  table,  and  many  times  made  the  servant  sit  cheek  by 
cheek  by  his  master :  and  chiefly  the  oflicers  and  men  of  base  couvli- 
tiou  did  so  :  for  those  which  had  better  education  did  inquire  wiio 
every  one  was,  and  made  difference  of  persons  :  but  all  did  what  they 
could  with  a  good  will :  and  every  one  told  them  whom  they  had  in 
their  houses,  that  they  should  not  trouble  themselves,  nor  think  them- 
.-elves  the  worse,  to  take  that  which  they  gave  them:  for  they  had 
been  in  the  like  case,  and  had  been  relieved  of  others,  and  that  this 
was  the  custom  of  that  country.  (!od  reward  them  all:  and  (iod 
grant  that  those  which  it  pleased  him  to  deliver  out  of  Flurida,  and 


EXPEDITION  OF  HERNANDO  DE  SOTO. 


210 


>      1^ 


to  bring  again  into  Christondoni,  may  servo  him :  and  unto  those  that 
died  in  that  country,  and  unto  all  that  believe  in  Tlim  and  confess 
bis  holy  faith,  God  for  his  mercy's  sake  grant  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
Amen. 

From  the  Port  tie  Spin'fii  Smitn^  where  they  landed  when  they 
entered  into  Florida,  to  the  l*rovinco  of  Oc^^k',  which  may  be  40(t 
leagues,  little  more  or  less,  is  a  very  plain  country,  and  has  many 
lakes  and  thick  woods,  and  in  some  places  they  are  of  wild  pine-trees ; 
and  is  a  weak  soil.  There  is  in  it  neither  mountain  nor  hill.  The 
country  of  Ocute.  is  more  fat  and  fruitful ;  it  has  thinner  woods,  and 
very  goodly  meadows  upon  the  rivers,  l-'rom  Ocute  to  Ciiti/acJiiqiti 
may  be  loO  leagues:  80  leagues  thereof  are  desert,  and  have  many 
groves  of  wild  pine  trees.  Through  the  wilderness  great  rivers  do 
pass.  From  CiUiJac/iujui  to  A'lKi/a,  mayht^  'loO  hnguea:  it  is  all  an 
hilly  country.  Calif(ulil(nd  and  Xuula  stand  both  in  plain  ground, 
high,  and  have  goodly  meadows  on  the  rivers.  From  thence  foi'ward 
to  Cliiaha,  Corn,  and  Talisc,  is  plain  ground,  dry  and  fat,  and  very 
plentiful  of  maize.  From  Xnahi  to  lltsathira  may  be  25U  leagues. 
From  TascaJiira  to  lt!o  Grande,  or  the  (Jreat  lliver,  may  be  300 
leagues :  the  country  is  low,  and  full  of  lakes.  From  liii  (J rand* 
forward,  the  country  is  higher  and  more  champaign,  and  best  peopled 
of  all  the  land  of  Florida.  And  along  this  river  from  Ai/ui,io  to 
Paetdia,  and  CuHtjna,  are  I'jO  leagues  :  the  country  is  plain,  and  the 
woods  thin,  and  in  some  places  champaign,  very  fruitful  and  pleasant. 
From  Coliijoa  io  Autlamque  arc  'l^tO  leagues  of  hilly  country.  From 
Autiamquc  to  Aijiiacai/,  may  be  '2C0  leagues  of  plain  grouu'I.  From 
A(jua((ii/  to  the  r'lxn'  oi  Dni/cao  120  leagues,  all  hilly  country. 

From  the  Fort  de  Spiritu  Santo  unto  Ajialarh,',  they  traveled 
from  east  to  west,  and  northwest.  From  ('ii/if'ar/ii(jiii  to  A'lada  from 
south  to  north.  From  A'lnda  to  (^>ea  from  east  to  west.  From 
Cora  to  Ta><eah(ea,  and  to  liio  (ira)ide,  as  far  as  the  provinces  of 
*,hiivji(iz  and  A<pii.in,  from  ea,-t  t^  west.  From  Atjiii.ro  to  Fataha  to 
■he  north.  From  Paeaha  to  Tidla  from  cast  to  west  :  from  TaUa  to 
Autiawipic  from  north  to  soutli,  to  the  province  of  (inaehnija  and 
Datjcao. 

The  bread  which  they  ate  in  all  the  land  of  Flaridii  is  of  maize,  which 
is  like  coarse  millet.  And  this  maize  is  common  in  all  the  islaiuls, 
and  from  the  Antilles  forward.  There  are  also  in  Florida  great  store 
of  walnuts,  plums,  mulberries,  and  grapes.  They  sow  and  gather 
their  maize  every  one  their  several  cmp.  The  fruits  are  common  to 
all,  for  they  grow  abroa<l  in  the  open  lields  in  great  ubuudauce,  with- 


■II 

ill 

I.  '' 


Hi 


I  i 


'Ill 

11 


•220 


lirSTOIUCAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


out  any  iiocd  of  planting  or  tlrossing.  Wlioro  thorc  })0  mountains, 
there  be  chestnuts;  they  are  snuiewhut  smaller  than  the  chestnuts  of 
tSpaiii.  From  J^io  (Iniudr  westward,  the  walnutH  differ  from  those 
that  grow  more  eastward  ;  fur  tln'y  are  soft,  and  like  unto  acorns ;  and 
those  which  grow  from  Jiio  (Iniinlc  to  Punio  dd  Spiritu  Santo  for 
the  most  part  arc  hard  j  and  the  trees  and  walnuts  in  show  like  those 
of  SiKiin.  There  is  a  fruit  through  all  the  country  which  groweth 
on  a  plant  like  Ligoacan,  which  the  Indians  do  plant.  The  fruit  is 
like  unto  Peares  lliall  •  it  has  a  very  good  smell,  and  an  excellent 
taste.  There  groweth  another  plant  in  the  open  field,  which  bcarcth  a 
fruit  like  unto  strawberries,  close  to  the  ground,  which  has  a  very  good 
taste.  The  plums  are  of  two  kinds,  red  and  gray,  of  the  making  and 
bigness  of  nuts,  and  have  three  or  four  stones  in  them.  These  arc 
better  than  all  the  plums  of  Spain,  and  they  make  far  better  prunes 
of  them.  In  the  grapes  there  is  only  want  of  dressing ;  for  though 
they  be  big,  they  have  a  great  kernel.  All  other  fruits  are  very  per- 
fect, and  less  hurtful  than  those  of  Spain. 

There  are  in  FJurida  many  bears  and  lions,  wolves,  deer,  dogs, 
cats,  martens,  and  conies.  There  be  many  wild  hens  as  big  as  turkeys, 
partridges  small,  like  those  of  Africa,  cranes,  ducks,  pigeons,  thrushes, 
and  sparrows.  There  are  certain  black  birds  bigger  than  sparrows, 
and  lesser  than  stares.  There  are  goshawks,  fiilcons,  gerfalcons,  and 
all  fowls  of  prey  that  are  in  Sjxiin. 

The  Indians  are  well  proportioned.  Those  of  the  plain  countries 
are  taller  of  body,  and  better  shapen,  th:in  those  of  the  mountains. 
Those  of  the  inland  have  greater  store  of  maize,  and  commodities  of 
the  country,  than  those  that  dwell  upon  the  sea-coast.  The  country 
along  the  sea-coast  is  barren  and  pftor,  and  the  people  more  warlike. 
The  coast  runneth  from  Puerto  (l<  I  Spirila  Santo  to  Apalaclic,  east 
and  west ;  and  from  Apalache  to  llio  dc  las  J'ahnas  from  east  to  west ; 
from  liio  dc  las  Palmas  unto  Xncva  Espaiia  from  north  to  south. 
It  is  a  gentle  coast,  but  it  hath  many  shoals,  and  great  shelves  of  sand. 

Pro  (jratias. 


DESCRirTION 


or  THE 


ENGLISH  PROVINCE  OF  CAllOLANA, 

i;V  Till]  .SPAXIAKDS  CALLED  FLOUIDA, 

AND  BY  tup:  FRENCH 

LA   LOUISIANE. 

AS  ALSO  OF  THE  GREAT  AND  FAMOUS  RIVER 

MESCIIACEBE  OR  MISSISSIPPI, 

THE  FIVE 

VAyi  NAVIGABLE  LAKES  OP  FRESH  WATEK, 

AND  THE  PARTS  ADJACENT. 

TOGETHER  WITH 

AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  C0:\1M0DITIES  OF  THE  GROWTH  AND  PRODUCTiON 
OF  THE  SAID  PROVINCE. 

BY    DANIEL    COXE. 


il 


i'.''-^  1 


.  'I  : 


m\ 


'1    .; 


J  I 


A  DESCRIPTION 


OF  THE 


ENGLISH  rROYINCE  OF  CAROLANA, 

BY  THE  SPANIARDS  CALLED  FLORIDA, 


AND  BY  THE  FRENCH 


LA    LOUISIANE.=^= 


Carolana  and  Carolina  are  two  distinct  though  bordering  pro- 
vinces, the  east  of  Carolana  joining  to  the  west  of  Carolina.  The 
former  was  granted  by  patcE*^^  unto  Sir  Robert  Heath,  in  the  begin- 
ning of  the  reign  of  King  Charles  I.,  which  said  Sir  Robert  was  then 
Attorney-rioncral,  and  by  him  conveyed  unto  the  Earl  of  Arundel, 
from  whom  it  came  by  mean  conveyances  unto  the  present  propri- 
etary. 

This  province  of  Carolana  is  extended  north  and  south  from  the 
river  St.  Matthco,  lying  according  to  the  patent  in  thirty-one  degrees 
(though  by  later  and  more  accurate  observations,  it  is  found  to  lie  ex- 
actly in  thirty  degrees  and  ten  minutes)  unto  the  river  Passo  Magno, 
which  is  in  thirty-six  degrees  of  northern  latitude ;  and  in  longitude 
from  the  Western  or  Atlantic  Ocean  unto  New  Mexico,  now  in  pos- 
session of  the  Spaniards,  which  is  in  a  direct  line  above  one  thousand 
miles,  and  where  not  inhabited  by  them,  unto  the  South  Sea.  It 
comprehends  within  its  bounds,  the  greatest  part  of  the  province  of 
Carolina,  whose  proprietors  derive  their  claim  and  pretensions  thereto. 


Hi  \l 


*  This  account  of  Louisiana  has  been  very  carefully  drawn  up  from  Memoirs 
and  Journals  kept  by  various  persons  sent  into  the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi,  by 
D.  Coxe.  The  expedition  fitted  out  by  him,  consisting  of  two  ships,  commanded 
by  Capt.  Barr,  were  the  first  to  sail  up  the  Mississippi.  (1598.) 


1 


224 


illsiduicAl.  roij.F.rTIONs  of  l.oiisi.WA. 


by  fliiirlcrs  fnnii  Kiiiu'  ('liarlcs  II.  ahout  thirty  yLiirs  nftor  the  aliovc- 
llirlitioiicd  ^fiant  tu  Sir  Kdlu'lt  Heath. 

The  i.Tcat  I'ivcr  Mi'srhacobc  runs  throiijrh  the  iniilst  of  this  cmiiitry, 
haviiiL:'  a  cniirse  ahiiii>t  ilircctly  iidvth  and  south  i'mm  its  lirst  i'Mnitains, 
in  iiliiiiit  lil'ty  (Icjrrcss  uf  nortli  latitude,  to  its  disenilMi^j'uin;^  into  the 
middle  of  the  (lulf  of  Mexico.  The  rivers  that  make  this,  which 
the  Sjrniiards  called  Itio  (Irande  del  Norte,  jiroeeed  about  onedialf 
from  the  west,  the  other  from  the  east,  so  that  the  whole  eountry  may 
be  almost  entirely  visited  by  navi;.'able  rivers,  without  any  falls  or 
cataracts,  which  are  usual  in  most  of  the  iiorlhern  rivers  of  America, 
and  ill  all  rivers  of  long  course,  even  in  Carolina  (thoui:h  to  this 
countiy  eonliiruous),  and  tlienee  northward  to  the  great  river  of  St. 
Lawreiiee  or  Canada,  and  other  rivers  niirthward  innumerable.  The 
excellent  and  convenient  .sitmition  of  this  country  for  iuland  trade  and 
navigation,  and  for  trade  with  the  Spaniards  iu  New  Mexico,  the  whole 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  the  South  Sea  (which  I  shall  hereafter  demon- 
strate), will  be  greatly  for  the  advantage,  and  not  iu  the  least  to  the 
lirejudiee  of  our  home  plantation  trade,  as  will  app(>ar  more  evident 
by  tlu'  description  of  this  great  River  31eschaeebe,  and  those  I'ivers  that 
cuter  into  it,  together  with  the  vast  navigable  lalces  ui  fresh  water 
adjoining  thereunto. 

AVo  will  for  good  reasons  begin  our  description  of  it  from  its  en- 
trance into  the  sea,  ascending  up  unto  its  source;  and  from  very  good 
journals  both  by  sea  and  land,  give  an  account  of  the  chief  rivers  that 
run  into  it  from  the  east  and  west,  as  we  find  them  in  our  ascent,  to- 
gether with  their  course,  length  and  bigness,  the  nature  of  the  coun- 
tries, and  the  names  of  the  nations  through  which  they  pass. 

The  lliver  Mescliacebe  is  so  called  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  north ; 
<:ehe  being  the  name  for  a  river,  even  as  far  as  Hudson's  Eay  j  and 
niiticha,  great,  which  is  the  Great  lliver;  and  by  the  French,  who 
learned  it  from  them,  corruptly,  Mississippi;  which  name  of  3Iescha- 
cebe  it  doth  retain  among  the  savages  during  half  its  course.  After- 
wards some  call  it  Chucagua,  others  Sassagoula,  and  Malabanchia,  as 
it  fares  with  the  Danubius,  which  four  hundred  miles  before  it  enters 
the  Euxine  Sea,  is  styled  the  Iscr;  and  the  like  happens  to  all  the 
rivers  of  long  cour.sc  in  America,  as  Oronogue,  the  river  of  the  Ama- 
zons, and  llio  do  la  Plata.  This  river  enters  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  one 
hundred  and  forty  leagues  from  the  north-west  part  of  the  peninsula 
of  Florida,  keeping  along  the  coast  in  thirty  degrees  north  latitude, 
and  one  hundred  and.  twenty  leagues  from  the  most  westerly  part  of 


COXK's  (LOUIStANA)  CAROLANA. 


22') 


I'th ; 


tlio  siiiil  i^iilf,  in  aliout  twonty-nino  dci^rocs  tho  siinu'  liititudc ;  ami 
thcnp(*  the  coast  oxfciids  S,  ami  by  W.  to  tlio  river  Paniico,  which  i.* 
under  tilt!  tropic  of  ('unccr  in  twenty-three  and  a  half  dej.'reeH,  tin 
utmost  part  iidiahitod  by  the  Spaniards  t<iward.s  tlio  N.  and  \.  K.  on 
the  diiU"  of  3Iexic(). 

'J'lic  province  of  Carolana,  from  the  conjunction  with  the  peninsula 
of  Florida,  for  two  hundred  and  fifty  leagues,  is  situated  about  the 
tliirtieth  degree  of  north  latitude,  and  seldom  varies  ten  leagues 
north  or  south  from  the  same;  excepting  the  entrance  of  the  river 
]MeschaC(!bo,  which  I  am  now  about  to  describe  frotn  the  mouth  unto 
its  lirsf  fountains. 

The  river  Meschacebo  empties  itself  into  the  (lulf  of  >Fexico  by 
seven  channels,  like  the  river  Nile,  of  which  Herodotus,  the  father  of 
history,  and  who  lived  long  in  Kgypt,  atlirms  in  his  time  three  were 
always  navigable,  and  the  others  only  so  during  the  inundations  of 
the  said  river,  which  were  made  by  art  and  labor,  though  our  modern 
navigators  allow  only  two;  but  our  river  hath  seven  navigable  at  all 
times;  the  three  great  ones  by  ships,  the  four  smaller,  two  on  each 
side  (as  appears  by  the  chart),  by  boats  and  sloops,  especially  durinj. 
the  time  of  the  waters  rising,  or  the  freshes,  as  they  call  them,  which 
are  always  constant,  and  return  in  the  spring,  and  sometimes  happen 
in  the  summer  upon  the  great  rains,  which  is  not  frequent. 

The  three  great  branches  always  navigable  by  shipping  are  situated 
about  six  miles  distant  from  each  other,  and  uniti'  all  at  one  place 
with  the  main  river,  about  twelve  miles  from  their  mouths. 

There  is  not  above  fourteen  feet  on  the  bar  at  low-water  in  neep- 
tides,  excepting  when  the  freshes  come  down  in  the  s[)riMg  or  ui)ou 
great  rains;  but  when  you  are  over  the  bar,  which  is  not  in  many 
places  above  a  ship's  length  broad,  you  enter  immediately  into  deep 
water  the  least  Ave  fathom,  which  increases  to  te!i  fathom  before  you 
come  to  the  main  river.  After  that  it  deepens  gradually  to  above  thirty, 
and  y.tu  have  nowhere  less  than  twenty  fathoms  for  one  hundred 
miles,  and  little  less  for  one  hundred  leagues,  and  afterwards  from 
ten  to  seventeen  for  one  hundred  leagues  more  :  then  from  six  to  ten 
two  hundred  leagues  further;  thence  to  the  great  cataract  or  fall, 
which  is  sixteen  hundred  miles  from  its  entrance  into  the  sea,  from 
three  fathoms  to  six.  Its  breadth  is  generally  during  its  great  depth 
scarce  a  mile,  but  as  it  lessens  in  depth  it  increases  in  broadtli,  and 
is  in  most  places  of  its  course  two  miles  brttad,  and  where  it  iiinkcs 
islands  (as  it  does  very  fretjuently),  from  the  miiliUe  of  its  course  two 
or  three  leagues.  The  banks  in  most  places  are  no  more  than  live  or 
IG 


Ml 


I; 

i 


220 


rir.sToiucAr,  ror.r.KcrioNs  of  Louisiana. 


six  ft'i't  alinvo  the  river,  and  sliip^  iii;iy  almost  in  all  pluops  lie  )iy  tlif 
Mido  of  the  wliorp,  thoro  bi'iiij^  ficncrally  tVuin  flircc  tn  six  fatlKtms,  and 
deopi'liH  gradually  as  ynu  approach  tlic  uiiddlo  of  tlic  river,  which  )ia>t 
mostly  a  pretty  strong  curroiit;  but  there  are  divers  proinoiitories, 
umlci  which  ymi  iiiiiy  anchor,  where  then;  is  good  shelter  from  winds 
and  curious  eddy-fides. 

When  yo\i  are  ascend<'d  tho  river  four  or  five  leagues,  it  is  bordered 
on  each  side  with  high  trees  of  divers  sorts,  from  half  u  mile  to  two 
miles  dec])  into  the  eountry;  very  little  underwoods;  no  trouble  in 
traveling,  licsides  what  proceeds  from  tlie  vines  ramping  upon  the 
ground.  Divers  others  surround  and  mount  up  tlu;  trees,  almost  unto 
their  tops,  wdiich  are  seldom  less  than  one  hundred  feet  from  their 
roots,  and  often  thirty  or  forty  feet  more.  When  you  come  out  of 
the  agreeable  shade,  you  see  a  most  beautiful  level  eountry,  only 
about  six  or  eight  miles  distance;  there  are  collins  or  gentle  ascents, 
for  the  most  })art  round  or  oval,  crowned  with  stately  trees,  which 
looks  more  lik(>  a  work  of  laborious  consummate  art  than  of  nu.'re  na- 
ture; and  this  on  both  sides  the  river,  so  far  as  the  acute.st  sight  can 
reach ;  in  which  meadows  the  wild  bulls  and  kine,  besides  other 
beasts,  gnize,  and  in  tho  heat  of  the  day  retire  into  these  woods  for 
shelter,  where  they  chew  the  cud. 

There  is  no  considerable  river  eniptiiis  itself  into  the  Meschacebe 
from  the  mouth.s  until  you  come  about  twelve  miles  above  the  IJayo- 
gola  and  Mougolaches,  two  nations  who  dwell  together  on  the  west 
side  thereof,  two  hundred  miles  from  the  sea;  then  on  the  east  side 
there  falls  nut  of  tho  3Ieschacebe  a  branch  which  after  a  (;ourse  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  miles  empties  itself  into  the  N.  K.  end  of  the 
gri'at  IJay  of  Spiritu  !?anto.  It  is  n(jt  above  forty  or  fifty  yanls  broad 
and  two  or  three  fathoms  deep  at  its  beginning,  but  soon  enlarges  in 
breadth  and  depth  by  the  accession  of  divers  rivers  and  rivulets,  and 
is  a  most  lovely  rivir,  making  pleasant  lakes,  and  passing,  during  its* 
whole  course,  through  a  country  exactly  like  that  we  liuvo  formerly 
described.  It  is  navigable  by  the  greatest  boats,  sloops,  and  small 
ships  of  English  building  j  and  by  large  ones  if  built  after  the  Dutch 
manner  with  flat  bottoms. 

Oil  the  north  side  of  one  of  the  alnve-mentioncd  lakes,  called  by  the 
rieiich  L;ik(!  Pontcharirain,  tli(>y  have  erected  a  small  fort,  and  store- 
houses, whither  after  unloading  their  large  vessels  at  Isle  aux  Vais- 
scaux,  or  Ship's  Island,  they  bring  their  goods  in  sloops  or  shallop.s, 
and  from  thence  disperse  them  by  their  traders  amongst  their  own 
settlements  and  the  several  nations  of  Indians  inhabiting  on  and  about 


'.  i 


I  i^i:>i 


roxK's  (uhisiana)  cauolana. 


227 


.'be 
lyo- 
?ost 
side 
of 
the 
rniid 
>s  in 
and 
it? 
lerly 
intdl 
utch 


own 

bout 


tlic  Mt^cliuccLf,  and  the  riviTs  whieli  tiitrr  it,  Loth  from  flio  cast 
and  west. 

AlMiiit  fifty  mlK's  ultovo  the  jilact' wlicrc  this  rivor  is  disiiiissi'tl  fnini 
tlic  Mcsrhaccht',  nil  tho  othtT  side,  viz.,  tlio  W(?st,  enters  the  river  of 
the  ilduiiias  (lied  Hiver),  ho  named  from  a  eniisideralih!  nation  whu 
inhuhit  n|)(tn  it  in  the  country,  h\x  or  oif^ht  mih's  fniin  its  nicutli. 
This  is  a  mi;.'hty  river,  deep  and  broad,  ami  comes  from  the  mnuntains 
of  Now  Mexico;  its  course  is  mostly  N.  W.,and  is  navii^'alile  by  larj^o 
vessels  above  thre(!  hun(hed  miles,  and  thence  by  lar^e  boats  and 
sloojis,  almost  unto  its  fountains.  IJy  this  river,  you  may  have  eom- 
niunieation  with  above  forty  nations  who  live  upon  it  or  its  branches; 
and  also  with  the  Spaniards  of  New  Mexico,  from  whom  its  furthest 
heads  are  not  above  an  easy  day's  journey.  Upon  tiiis  river  and 
most  of  its  branches  arc  j;reat  herds  of  wihl  kine,  which  bear  a  fiiii.' 
woo!,  and  abundance  of  horse,  both  wild  and  tame,  of  the  Spanish 
breed,  on  which  tiio  Fiidiaiis  ride  with  almost  as  much  skill  as  the 
Europeans,  tlioui^h  their  bridles,  saddles  anil  stirrups  are  somewhat 
dilforeiit  from  ours,  yet  not  the  less  commodious. 

Twelve  leagues  higher  upon  the  river  .Meschacebe  is  the  river  of 
the  Naches  (Washita),  which  ton  or  twelve  leagues  abov((  its  mouth 
divides  itself  into  two  branches,  and  forms  an  island  (Sicily)  about 
thirty  miles  in  circumference,  very  plc.isant  and  fertile.  The  south 
branch  is  inhabited  by  the  Corroas,  the  north  by  the  Naches.  both 
considerable  nations,  abounding  in  all  neces.siries  for  human  life. 
Some  leagues  above  the  division  is  a  pretty  large  lake  (Tensas),  where 
there  is  a  great  lishcry  for  pearl,  large  and  good,  taken  out  of  a  shell- 
fish of  a  middle  nature  between  an  oyster  and  a  muscle. 

About  twelve  or  fimr teen  leagues  higher  on  the  same,  that  is,  the  west 
.side,  the  Meschacebe  makes  a  little  gulf  ( Petit  (Julf)  about  twenty 
miles  long  and  three  or  four  broad,  upon  which  inhaliitiii  many  towns 
tho  populous  and  civilized  nation  of  the  Taheiisa  (Tacn^as),  who  also 
abound  in  pearls,  and  enjoy  an  excellent  country;  are  very  hospi- 
table to  strangers,  and  though,  as  most  Indian  nations,  at  war 
with  their  neighbors,  yet  together  with  the  three  last  mentioned,  and 
those  to  be  hereafter  named,  joyfully  receive  and  kindly  entertain  all 
with  whom  they  have  not  actual  hostilities. 

iMiurteeu  or  liftecn  leagues  higher  on  the  east  side  of  the  Meschacebe 
is  the  nation  and  river  of  Yasouc  (Yazoo),  which  comes  two  or  three 
hundreil  miles  out  of  the  coiintry,  on  whiih  (I'.vell  tlie  iiiition-^  in  order 
mentioned  after,  tho  Vassouees,  the  Tuunicas,  Koumuas,  Tiliiou, 
Samboukia,  and  l']pitoupa. 

Ten  or  twelve  leagues  higher  on  the  west  side  is  the  river  Natchi- 


^  '1 


■ ,  I 


iii 


'  1  Iii 


!  ! 


;;■' 


228 


nrSTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


tock  (Arkansas),  which  has  a  course  of  many  hiiudred  miles;  and 
after  it  is  ascended  about  one  hundred,  there  are  many  springs,  pits, 
und  hikes,  which  afford  most  excellent  common  salt  in  great  plenty, 
wherewith  they  trade  with  neighboring  nations  for  other  commodities 
they  vant,  and  may  be  of  great  service  to  the  European  inhabitants 
of  this  country,  to  preserve  flesh  and  fish  for  their  own  use,  and  ex- 
portation to  natives,  Spaniards,  and  our  islands,  to  the  great  profit  of 
them  who  have  not  stock  to  engage  in  greater  and  more  beneficial  un- 
dertakings. Upon  this  river  inhabit  not  only  the  Natchitocks,  Nagu- 
ateeres,  Natsohocks,  but  higher  several  other  nations.  Sixteen 
leagues  further  upon  the  west  side,  enter  the  Meschacebe  two  rivers, 
which  unite  about  ten  leagues  above,  and  make  an  island  called  by 
the  name  of  the  Torimans,  by  whom  it  is  inhabited. 

The  southerly  of  these  two  rivers  is  that  of  the  Ousoutiwy,  upon 
which  dwell  first  the  Arkansas,  a  great  nation,  higher  upon  the  same 
river  the  Kansa),  Mintou,  Erabacha  and  others. 

The  river  to  the  north  is  named  Niska,  upon  which  live  part  of  the 
nation  of  the  Ozages ;  their  great  body  inhabiting  a  large  river  which 
bears  their  name,  and  empties  itself  into  the  Yellow  River,  as  will  be 
hereafter  mentioned :  and  upon  this  river  near  the  mouth  is  the  na- 
tion Touginga,  who  with  the  Torimas  are  part  of  the  Arkansas. 

Ten  leagues  higher  is  a  small  river  named  Cappa,  and  upon  it  a 
people  of  the  same  name,  and  another  called  Ouesperies,  who  fled,  to 
avoid  the  persecution  of  the  Irocois,  from  a  river  which  still  bears 
their  name,  to  be  mentioned  hereafter. 

Ten  miles  higher  on  the  same  side  of  the  Meschacebe,  is  a  little 
river  named  3Iatchicebe  upon  which  dwell  the  nations  Mitchigamia 
and  Epiminguia;  over  against  whom  is  the  great  nation  of  the  Chi- 
cazas  (Chickasaws),  whose  country  extends  above  forty  leagues  to  the 
river  of  the  Cheraquces  (Tennessee),  which  we  shall  describe  when 
we  come  to  discourse  of  the  great  river  Ilohio. 

Ten  leagues  higher,  on  the  east  side,  is  the  river  and  nation  of 
Chongue,  with  some  others  to  the  east  of  them. 

Fifteen  leagues  higher,  on  the  west  side,  is  the  river  and  nation  of 
Sypouria. 

Thirty  leagues  higher  on  the  east  side  is  the  opening  of  a  river 
that  proceeds  out  of  a  lake  twenty  miles  long,  which  is  about  ten 
miles  from  the  Meschacebe.  Into  this  lake  empty  themselves  four 
large  rivers.  The  most  northerly,  which  comes  from  the  north-east, 
is  called  Ouabachicou  or  Ouabache,  upon  which   dwelt  the  nations 


COXe's  (LOUISIANA)  CAROLANA. 


OOQ 


Chachakingua,  Pepcpicokia,  Pianguichia.  The  next  south  of  this  is 
the  vast  river  Ilohio  (Ohio),  which  conies  from  the  back  of  Now  York, 
Maryhmd,  and  Virginia,  and  is  navigable  GOO  miles,  lluhin  in  the 
Indian  language  signifies  the  fair  river;  and  certainly  it  runs  from  its 
beads  through  the  most  beautiful  fertile  countries  in  the  universe, 
and  is  formed  by  the  confluence  of  ten  or  twelve  rivers,  and  inTuime- 
rable  rivulets.  A  town  settled  upon  this  lake,  or  the  entrance  of  the 
river  Ilohio  thereinto,  would  have  communication  with  a  most  lovely 
fruitful  country  GOO  miles  square.  Formerly,  divers  nations  dwelt  on 
this  river,  as  the  Chawanoes  (Shawances),  a  mighty  and  very  popu- 
lous people,  who  had  above  fifty  towns,  and  many  other  nations,  who 
were  totally  destroyed  or  driven  out  of  their  country  by  the  Irocois, 
this  river  being  their  usual  road  when  they  make  war  upon  the  na- 
tions who  lie  to  the  south  or  to  the  west. 

South  of  the  Ilohio  is  another  river,  which  about  thirtj^  leagues 
above  the  lake  is  divided  into  two  branches ;  the  northerly  is  called 
Ouespere,  the  southerly  the  Black  Itiver ;  there  are  very  few  people 
upon  either,  they  having  been  destroyed  or  driven  away  by  the  afore- 
mentioned Irocois.  The  heads  of  this  river  proceed  from  the  west 
side  of  the  vast  ridge  of  mountains,  which  run  on  the  back  of  Caro- 
lina, Virginia,  and  Maryland;  on  whose  opposite  or  east  side  are  the 
sources  of  the  great  river  Potomack,  which  by  a  mouth  of  some  leagues 
broad,  disgorges  itself  into  the  middle  of  the  liay  of  Chesepeack,  and 
separates  the  two  hist-mentioued  provinces  from  each  other.  The 
mountains  aflford  a  short  passage  or  communication  between  those  two 
rivers,  which  the  Indians  are  well  acquainted  with,  and  by  which,  in 
conjunction  with  the  French  of  the  3Ieschacebe,  they  may  in  time  in- 
sult and  harass  those  colonies. 

The  UKjst  southerly  of  the  above  said  four  rivers,  which  enter  into 
the  lake,  is  a  river  some  call  Kasqui,  so  named  from  a  nation  inhabit- 
ing a  little  above  its  mouth;  others  call  it  the  Cusates,  or  the  river  of 
the  Cheraquees  (Tennessee),  a  mighty  nation,  among  whom  it  hath 
its  chief  fountains;  it  comes  from  the  southeast,  and  its  heads  are 
among  the  mountains,  which  separate  this  country  from  Carolina,  and 
is  the  great  road  of  the  traders  from  thence  to  the  3Ieschaeebe,  and 
intermediate  places.  Above  200  miles  up  this  river  to  the  south- 
cast  is  the  great  and  powerful  nation  of  the  Cliicazas,  good  friends  to 
the  English,  whose  dominions  extend  thence  to  the  3Ieschacebe.  Be- 
fore you  come  at  them  is  a  small  fall  or  cataract,  the  only  one  I  have 
yet  heard  of  in  any  of  the  rivers  that  out'ji-  the  Mesehacebe,  cither 


:] 


111 


1 


n  i 


F 


230 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


from  the  cast  or  from  tlic  west.  Thirty  or  forty  h'ngues  above  the 
Chicazas,  this  river  forms  four  delicate  islands,  which  have  eaeh  ii  na- 
tion inhabiting  ihem,  viz.,  Tuhogale,  Kakigne,  (Nu-hali,  and  Tali. 
Sixty  leagues  above  the  island  and  nation  of  the  Tali  inhabits  the 
aforementioned  nation  of  the  Chcraqucs  (Cherokcos),  who  have  at 
least  sixty  towns,  some  of  which  are  not  above  sixty  miles  from  Caro- 
lina. They  have  great  friendship  with  the  English  of  that  province, 
who  from  thence  carry  on  u  free  trade  with  and  are  always  very  kindly 
ent'i'tuined  by  them. 

lifteen  leagues  above  the  Ilohio,  or  the  river  coming  out  of  the 
lake  aforementioned,  to  the  west,  is  the  river  Ilonabanou,  upon  which 
dwells  a  nation  of  the  same  name,  and  another  called  Amicoa  ;  and 
ten  leagues  above  that  is  the  great  island  of  the  Taniaroas,  and  over 
against  it,  on  the  east  side,  a  nation  which  goes  by  its  name,  and 
another  by  that  of  Cahokia,  who  dwell  on  the  banks  of  the  river 
Chepusso. 

Fifteen  leagues  above  which  to  the  west  is  the  Great  Yellow 
(Missouri'^)  lliver,  so  named  because  it  is  yellowish,  and  so  muddy  that 
though  the  Meschaccbe  is  very  clear  where  they  meet,  and  so  many 
great  rivers  of  crystaline  water  below  mix  with  the  Meschaccbe,  yet 
it  discolors  them  all  even  unto  the  sea.  When  you  are  up  this  river 
sixty  or  seventy  miles,  you  meet  with  two  branches.  The  lesser, 
though  large,  proceeds  from  the  south,  and  most  of  the  rivers  that 
compose  it  fall  from  the  mountains,  which  separate  this  country  from 
New  Mexico ;  notwithstanding  which,  there  is  a  very  easy  communi- 
cation between  them.  This  is  called  the  river  of  the  Ozages,  from  a 
numerous  people,  who  have  sixteen  or  eighteen  towns  seated  thereupon, 
especially  near  its  mixing  with  the  Yellow  Kiver.  The  other,  which  is 
the  nuiin  branch,  comes  from  the  north-west,  most  of  whose  branches 
descend  likewise  from  the  mountains  of  New  Mexico,  and  divers  other 
large  provinces  which  are  to  the  north  of  New  Mexico,  wholly  pos- 
sessed by  Indians,  who  are  said  to  be  very  numerous,  and  well  policed. 
They  are  all  at  war  with  the  Spaniards,  from  whom  they  have  defended 
their  countries  above  150  yeans,  and  have  rather  recovered  than  lost 
ground.  They  are  likewise  at  war,  as  generally  the  Indians  are, 
amongst  themselves.  The  most  northerly  branches  of  this  river  are 
interwoven  with  other  branches,  which  have  a  contrary  course,  pro- 
ceeding to  the  west,  and  empty  themselves  into  a  vast  lake,  whose 
waters  by  means  of  another  great  river  (Columbia)  disembogues  into 

•  The  first  explorer  of  this  river  and  the  St.  Peters  was  La  Hontan. 


coxe's  (Louisiana)  cauolana. 


231 


the  South  Sea.  The  Tndians  affirm  thoy  sec  groat  ships  sailing  in 
that  lake,  twenty  times  bigger  than  their  canoes.  Tlie  YeUow  i,- 
called  the  river  of  the  Miissorites,  from  a  great  nation  inhabiting 
in  mai\y  towns  near  its  junction  with  the;  river  of  tlie  Ozagrs.  There 
are  matiy  other  nations  upon  the  same,  little  inferior  to  them  in  ex- 
tent of  territories  or  number  of  towns,  as  the  Panimahas,  I'aneassas, 
Panas,  Panclogas,  Matotantes,  few  of  them  having  less  than  twenty 
towns,  scarce  any  of  which  count  less  than  '200  ^labins. 

Forty  miles  above  the  Yellow  River,  on  the  east  side,  is  the  river 
Chicagou,  or  the  river  of  the  Alinoueeks,  corruptly  by  the  French 
called  Illinois,  which  nation  lived  upon  and  about  this  river,  having 
above  sixty  towns,  and  formerly  consisted  of  20,000  lighting  men,  but 
are  now  almost  totally  destroyed  by  the  Irocois,  or  driven  beyond  the 
Meschacebe  westward.  This  is  a  large  pleasant  river;  and  about  250 
miles  above  its  entrance  into  the  Meschacebe,  it  is  divided  into  two 
branches ;  the  lesser  comes  from  north  and  by  cast,  and  its  head  is 
within  four  or  five  miles  of  the  great  lake  of  the  Alinoueeks  (Michigan) 
on  its  west  side ;  the  other  comes  almost  directly  from  the  east,  and 
proceeds  from  a  morass  within  two  miles  of  the  river  Miamiha,  which 
empties  itself  into  the  same  lake.  On  the  south-east  side,  there  is  an 
easy  communication  between  these  two  rivers,  by  a  land  carriage  of 
two  leagues,  about  fifty  miles  to  the  south-east  of  the  forementioned 
lake.  The  course  of  this  river  from  its  head  exceeds  400  miles,  navi- 
gable above  half  way  by  ships,  and  most  of  the  rest  by  sloops  and  large 
boats  or  barges.  3Iany  small  rivers  run  into  it,  and  it  forms  two  or 
three  lakes ;  but  one  mightily  extolled,  called  Pimiteouiii  (Peoria), 
which  is  twenty  miles  long  and  three  miles  broad  j  it  affords  great 
quantities  of  good  ilsh,  and  the  country  round  about  it  abounds  with 
game,  both  fowls  and  beasts.  IJesidcs  the  lllinoueck  are  the  nations 
Perouaria  (Peoria),  the  great  nation  Cascasijuia  and  Caracantanon  ;  and 
on  the  northern  branch  inhabit  part  of  the  nation  of  the  Mascontens. 

On  the  south-east  bank  of  this  river,  Monsieur  de  la  Sale  erected 
a  fort  in  the  year  1G80,  which  he  named  Crevo-c«ur,  from  the  grief 
which  seized  him  on  the  loss  of  one  of  his  chief  trading  barks  richly 
laden,  and  the  mutiny  and  villainous  intrigues  of  some  of  his  company, 
who  first  attempted  to  poison  and  afterwards  desert  him.  This  fort 
stands  about  half  way  between  the  bay  of  Mexico  and  (Canada,  and 
was  formerly  the  usual  route  of  the  French  in  going  to  or  returning 
from  either  of  those  places  ;  but  since,  they  have  discovered  a  nearer 
and  easier  pjissage  by  the  Ouabacho  and  Ohio,  the  sources  of  both 


it, 


i  I 


-ill 
'  k 


!  r 


232 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


I    ! 


which  rivers  are  at  a  small  distance  from  the  Lake  Eric,  or  some 
rivers  which  empty  into  it. 

Forty  leagues  higher  on  the  west  side  is  a  fair  river,  which  our  peo- 
ple were  at  the  mouth  of,  but  could  not  learn  its  name.  I  suppose 
it's  the  same  the  French  call  Moingona.  Some  make  it  to  proceed  from 
the  Mitchayowa  or  long  river,  as  may  be  discerned  in  the  annexed 
map ;  but  as  all  our  journals  are  silent  in  that  matter,  so  shall  I,  till 
some  more  perfect  discoveries  thereof  afford  us  further  light  and  cer- 
tainty therein. 

When  you  are  ascended  about  forty  leagues  more,  then  on  the 
east  side  falls  into  the  Meschacebe  the  river  jMisconsing.  This  is 
much  of  the  same  nature  with  that  of  the  Alinouecks,  whether  you 
consider  its  breadth,  depth  and  course,  as  also  the  pleasantness,  and 
fertility  of  the  country  adjacent  unto  all  its  branches.  After  you 
have  rowed  or  sailed  up  it  sixty  miles,  joins  with  it  the  river  of  the 
Kikapouz,  which  is  also  navigable,  and  comes  a  great  way  from  the 
north-east.  Eighty  miles  further,  almost  directly  east,  there  is  a 
ready  communication,  by  a  carriage  of  two  leagues,  with  the  river  of 
Miscouaqui,  which  hath  a  quite  contrary  course,  running  to  the 
north-cast,  and  empties  itself,  after  a  passage  of  150  miles  from  the 
land  carriage,  into  the  great  bay  of  the  Pouteouotamis,  or  the  I'uans, 
which  joins,  on  the  north-west,  with  the  great  lake  of  the  Alinouecks. 
This  river  and  bay  I  shall  have  occasion  to  mention  when  I  come  to 
describe  the  vast  lakes  or  seas  of  fresh  water  which  are  to  the  east 
of  the  Meschacebe. 

Forty  leagues  higher,  on  the  same  side,  is  the  fair  large  river 
Mitchaoywa,  which  is  the  same  the  Baron  le  Ilontan  calls  the  long 
river,  and  gives  a  vor}'  particular  description  thereof,  having  navi- 
i^ated  it  almost  to  its  heads.  It  has  a  course  of  above  five  hundred 
miles,  and  the  southern  rivers,  of  which  it  is  composed,  arc  near  the 
northern  heads  of  the  river  of  the  3Iessourites,  both  taking  their 
original  from  the  mountains  which  divide  this  country  from  that 
which  leads  to  the  South  Sea.  Several  rivers  proceed  from  the  other 
side  of  the  mountains,  which  are  easily  passed  in  less  than  one  day, 
and  fall  into  the  same  lake  above  n)entioned,  which  discharges  itself 
by  a  great  river  into  the  aforesaid  sea.  As  you  ascend  this  river  from 
the  ]Meschacebe,  you  meet  with  the  nations  Kokoros,  Essanapc, 
(Inasitaries,  who  have  eacli  many  towns,  and  very  populous.  And 
the  said  Baron  acquaints  us,  from  very  good  information,  that  beyond 
these  hills  are  two  or  throe  mighty  nations,  under  potent  kings, 
abundantly  more  civilized,  numerous,  and  warlike  than  their  neigh- 


coxe's  (Louisiana)  carolaxa. 


0'.>r> 


Lors;  difToring  greatly  in  customs,  buildings,  and  government  from 
all  the  other  natives  of  this  northern  continent;  that  they  arc  clothed, 
and  build  houses  and  ships  like  Europeans,  having  many  of  great 
bigness,  in  length  I'JO  or  180  feet,  and  carry  from  l!00  to  oUO  men, 
which  navigate  t!ie  great  lake,  and  it  is  thought  the  adjacent  parts  of 
the  ocean.  And  llerrera,  (Jomora,  and  some  other  Spanisli  his- 
toriographers assert  that  the  Spaniards  saw  upon  that  coast  such 
ships,  which  they  apprehended  came  from  Japan  or  China. 

A  little  higher  up  is  the  river  Chabadeda,  above  which  the  Mes- 
chaecbe  makes  a  line  lake,  twenty  miles  long  and  eight  or  ten  broad. 

Nine  or  ten  miles  above  that  lake,  on  the  cast  side,  is  a  large  fair 
river,  called  the  river  of  Tortoises,  after  you  have  entered  a  little 
way,  which  leads  far  into  the  ci>untry  to  the  north-east,  and  is  naviga- 
ble by  the  greatest  boats  forty  miles.  About  the  same  distance 
further  up,  tlie  Mesehacebo  is  precipitated  from  the  rocks  about  fifty 
feet,  but  is  .so  far  navigable  by  considerable  ships,  as  also  beyond, 
excepting  another  fall,  eighty  or  ninety  miles  higher,  by  large  ves- 
f<els,  unto  its  sources,  which  arc  in  the  country  of  the  >>ieux,  not  at 
a  very  great  distance  from  Hudson's  ]Jay.  There  are  many  other 
smaller  rivers  which  fall  into  the  Meschacebe,  on  both  sides  of  it, 
but  being  of  little  note,  and  the  description  of  them  of  small  consc- 
qvc"''?,  T  have  passed  over  them  in  silence. 

I  now  proceed  to  describe  that  part  of  this  province  which  is  to 
the  east  of  the  3Ie.«;ehacebe  ;  the  rivers  wliich  pa.ss  through  it  having 
no  communication  therewith.  From  the  Peninsula  of  Tlorida,  where 
this  country  begins,  to  the  south-east,  there  are  only  two  large  rivers : 
the  fir.st,  that  of  Palacho,  the  true  Indian  name,  by  the  Spaniards 
called  the  river  of  Spirito  Santo,  or  of  iVpalache,  adding  an  A,  after 
the  Arabian  manner,  from  which  a  great  part  of  their  language  is 
derived  J  as  in  the  provinces  of  Nilco,  3Iinoia,  they  pronounce  Ani/ro, 
Amintjia,  and  so  in  divers  others.  This  river  enters  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  about  100  miles  from  the  Cod  of  the  liay  of  Palache,  at  the 
north-west  end  of  the  Peninsula  of  Florida,  in  thirty  degrees  of  north 
latitude,  and  some  few  minutes.  It  is  s(>mewhat  hard  to  find,  by 
reason  of  the  i.^^les  and  lagunes  before  it;  anil  though  a  stately  river, 
and  comes  far  out  of  the  country,  hath  not  above  two  fathoms  and 
a  half  or  three  fathoms  water  at  most  on  the  bar,  as  the  people  .sent 
on  discover}-  I'ouikI  ;  but  that  being  passed,  it  is  very  deep  and  large; 
and  tlie  tide  Hows  higher  than  into  any  river  up(in  all  tlie  coast,  sume 
affirm  tifty  miles,  which  is  no  wonder,  the  country  being  a  perfect 
level,  and  the  river  having  a  double  current;  one  IVo'.n  the  south,  all 


il: 


234 


niSTOmCAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


!  ! 


■a 


I 


along  llic  penliiHiihi,  from  twcnty-fivo  degrees  to  thirty.  The  other 
from  tlie  west.  Near  it,  on  both  sides  towards  the  sea-coast,  dwell 
divers  nations,  I'alachoes,  Chattoes,  Sulliiggoes,  Toniniakees,  &c. ; 
who  arc  generally  called  by  one  name  of  Apalatchy  Indians.  This 
river  proceeds  chiefly  from  rivers  which  have  their  origin  on  the  .«outh 
or  south-west  side  of  the  great  ridge  of  hills  that  divides  this  country 
from  Carolina,  and  is  siipjiosed  to  have  a  course  of  about  400  miles. 
Upon  or  near  the  middle  of  it  live  the  great  nations  of  the  Cusshetues, 
Tallibousies  and  Adgebaches. 

To  the  west  of  this  is  the  famous  Coza  (a  branch  of  the  Mobile), 
or,  as  ours  call  it,  the  Coussa  Kiver,  and  the  French  Mobile,  the  big- 
gest, next  unto  Me.sch:icebe  and  Ilohio,  of  any  in  this  or  the  neighbor- 
ing provinces.  Its  first  heads  are  likewise  from  the  aforesaid  I'ala- 
chean  3Iountains — the  most  northerly  being  at  Guaxula  town  and 
province,  near  the  foot  of  the  mountain.  Many  rivulets  uniting,  after 
u  course  of  eighty  miles,  form  a  river  bigger  than  the  Thames  at 
Kingston,  making  several  delicous  isles,  some  three  or  four  miles 
long,  and  half  a  njile  broad;  the  country  is  wonderfully  pleasant  and 
fertile.  The  first  considerable  town  or  province  is  Chiaha,  famous  for 
its  pearl  fishing,  there  being  thereabouts,  in  the  river  and  little  lakes 
it  makes,  x  sort  of  shell-fish,  the  ancients  named  pinna,  between  a 
muscle  and  oyster;  concerning  which  I  have  discour.sed  in  the  ac- 
count of  the  produces  or  commodities  of  this  country.  From  thence 
the  river  grows  larger  and  deeper,  by  accession  of  others  from  the 
mountains,  and  from  the  West,  until  it  enters  the  province  of  Coza, 
or  Conssa,  which  is  reckoned  one  of  the  most  pleasant  and  fruitful 
parts  of  this  country,  and  very  populous,  Through  this,  Ferdinando 
Soto  passed,  and  resided  therein  a  considerable  time;  and  all  the 
Spanish  writers  of  this  famous  expedition  extol  them  above  any 
other  nation  for  extent  of  territory,  the  pleasantness,  healthfulness, 
fruitfuhiess  thereof,  and  the  good  disposition  of  tlie  inhabitants.  The 
faithful  and  judicious  l*ortuguese  unknown  author  of  that  expedition, 
in  a  few  words  thus  dcsc-ribes  this  province : — 

"  It  consists  of  hills  and  valleys  between.  Their  granaries  were 
full  of  Indian  corn,  and  other  edibles;  so  populous  that  their  towns 
and  fields,  sowed  with  corn,  touched  each  other;  the  country  is  very 
agreeable,  by  reason  of  many  rivulets,  which  make  lovely  meadows. 
There  grow,  naturally  in  the  fields,  prunes,  better  than  we  can  in 
Spain  produce  by  culture,  even  in  our  gardens.  Vines  mount,  in 
almost  nil  places  near  the  rivers,  to  the  tops  of  the  trees.     There  are 


COXE's  (LOUISIANA)  CAROLANA. 


235 


(livers  other  sorts  of  vines  which  are  low,  smd  some  run  iiimn  the 
ground,  and  by  cultivating  might  he  wonderfully  inii>rnved,  though 
very  good  and  pleasant  as  they  are  in  their  natural  state." 

IJelow  these,  on  the  same  river,  are  the  I'Uibalies,  or  as  some,  the 
Olibahalies,  and  according  to  the  French  the  Allibanmns.  Ami  be- 
low them  the  Tallises,  who  dwell  upon  a  fair  river  whieli  enters  thai 
of  Coza  from  the  east,  thence  to  the  once  great  province  of  Tasculuza 
(Tuscaloosa),  almost  destroyed  by  Ferdinando  Soto ;  but  the  chief 
city  Mauvilla,  which  the  English  call  3Iaubela,  and  the  French  Mo- 
bile, is  yet  in  being,  though  far  short  of  its  former  grandeur.  About 
one  hundred  miles  from  hence,  it  enters  the  (iulf  of  Mexico,  being 
first  increased,  as  by  many  small  rivers  and  rivulets,  so  bv  the  fair 
river  of  the  Chattas,  which  is  made  bv  a  collection  of  several  other 
little  streams  and  rivers,  and  which  at  length  form  a  tine  river,  that 
would  seem  considerable,  if  it  were  not  obscured  by  the  great  river  in 
which  it  is  lost.  This  mighty  nation  of  the  Chattas  ((Mioctaws), 
consisting  of  near  three  thousand  fighting  men,  live  chiefly  about  the 
middle  of  the  river,  and  is  not  far  from  the  Chicazas,  whom  I  men- 
tioned to  inhabit  thirty  or  forty  towns,  in  the  description  of  the  Cas- 
qui  or  Cusatcs  river,  and  speak  the  same  language.  And  to  the  cast, 
between  them  and  the  Cozas,  are  the  IJecaes  or  Abecaes,  who  have 
thirteen  towns,  and  dwell  upon  divers  small  rivers,  which  run  into 
the  Coussa.  It  is  a  very  pleasant  country,  like  that  of  the  Coza,  full 
of  hills  and  valleys ;  their  ground  is  generally  more  marly,  or  fatter 
than  many  other  provinces,  which  are  mostly  of  a  lighter  mould. 
And  a  little  more  to  the  south-west,  between  the  Becacs  and  Chattas, 
dwell  in  divers  towns,  being  five  hundred  fighting  men,  the  Ewemales, 
upon  a  fair  river  of  their  name,  which  coming  from  the  east,  mixe.> 
with  the  Coussa.  This  mighty  river  enters  the  Gulf  of  ]Mexico, 
aboiU  fifteen  leagues  to  the  west  of  the  great  I?ay  of  Nassau  or  Spirito 
Santo,  or  from  the  N.  E.  cape  of  Mirtle  Isle,  which  is  the  South 
Land,  between  which  and  the  continent  to  the  north  is  the  entrance- 
of  that  vast  inlet.  The  river  runs  into  a  kind  of  a  lagunc  or  bay, 
which  is  barred  four  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  river,  supposed  to 
be  occasioned,  as  the  Meschacebe,  in  long  process  of  time,  by  the  silt 
or  sediment  of  the  water,  this  being  almost  as  muddy,  coming,  for 
the  most  part,  through  a  rich  clay  or  marl  ;  so  that  at  the  bar,  when  it 
is  low  water  (and  it  flows  little  there  excepting  the  south  wind  drive 
in  a  great  sea),  there  is  not  above  fourteen  or  fifteen  feet ;  but  the 
uiouth  being  some  miles  broad,  and  our  people  not  having  leisure  to 


!   1 


I'! 


Im 


236 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


exainino  nicely,  perhaps  there  may  be  found  deeper  places  upon  other 
parts  of  the  bar :  but  so  soon  as  you  are  over  it,  there  is  a  most  noble 
harbor,  very  largo,  from  four  to  six  fathoms  deep.  Near  the  mouth  of 
this  river  the  French  have  lately  made  a  new  settlement,  called  Fort 
Louis,  which  is  the  usual  residence  of  the  Chief  Governor  of  Louisi- 
ana, who  is  nevertheless  subordinate  to  him  of  Canada.  In  this  fort 
are  some  companies  of  soldiers,  and  from  thence  detachments  are 
sent  to  secure  the  several  stations  they  have  amongst  the  Indians  in 
the  inland  parts. 

As  the  Ullibalys  or  Allibamons,  Chicazis,  and  Chattas  (Choetaws), 
are  the  most  populous  and  potent  nations  upon  and  between  this  river 
and  the  Meschacebe,  the  English  for  several  years  resided  peaceably 
amongst,  carried  on  a  considerable  trade  with,  and  were  as  friends 
kindly  entertained  by  them,  till  about  the  year  1715,  by  the  intrigues 
and  practices  of  the  French,  they  were  either  murdered,  or  obliged  to 
retire,  and  make  room  for  those  new  intruders,  who  have  since  unjustly 
possessed  and  fortified  the  very  same  stations,  in  order  to  keep  the 
natives  in  awe  and  s'lbjcction,  and  to  cut  off  the  communication  of  the 
English  traders  with  the  Indians  thereabouts,  and  as  far  as  and  beyond 
the  Meschacebe;  whereby  they  have  secured  to  themselves  an  exten- 
sive and  profitable  trade  of  above  500  miles,  which  the  subjects  of 
Great  Britain  were  a  few  years  ago  the  sole  masters  of. 

Besides  the  French  settlement  above  mentioned  on  the  continent, 
they  have  another  small  town  and  fort  in  the  isle  Dauphine,  formerly 
called  Slaughter  Island,  from  a  great  number  of  men's  bones  found 
there  on  its  first  discovery,  the  remains,  as  is  said,  of  a  blood}-  battle 
fought  between  two  nations  of  Indians.  This  island  lies  about  nine 
leagues  south  of  Fort  Louis,  and  fourteen  leagues  west  of  Pcnsacola. 
It  is  inhabited  and  fortified  only  on  account  of  its  harbor,  it  being  the 
first  place  the  French  shipping  usually  touch  at  in  their  voyage  from 
France.  The  distance  between  this  river  and  that  of  Palachc  or 
Spirito  Santo  to  the  cast  is  about  190  miles.  The  coast  between 
them  is  very  deep  and  bold,  contrary  to  all  former  maps  ;  for  those 
sent  upon  discovery  sounded  several  times  every  day,  and  found  it  so, 
as  by  the  journals  will  appear. 

Between  those  two  great  rivers  are  divers  harbors ;  the  chief,  and 
indeed  the  best,  upon  all  the  coast  of  the  Gulf  of  Jlexico  is  Pcnsicola, 
a  large  harbor,  and  very  safe  from  all  winds ;  has  four  fathoms  at  the 
entrance,  and  deepens  gradually  to  seven  or  eight.  To  the  east  of  the 
harbor  enters  a  fine  river,  which  conies  about  100  miles  out  of  the 
country,  and  is  made  of  two  rivers,  which  unite  some  miles  above. 


I( 


COXe's  (LOUISIANA)  CAIIOLANA. 


287 


This  liiirlxir  or  bay  lies  ninety  loagucs  west  from  the  upper  part  of  the 
peninsula  of  Florida.  On  the  larboard  or  west  side  of  the  harbor 
stands  a  poor  town,  containing  about  forty  I'aliuetto  houses,  with  a 
small  stoekadoed  fort  of  twelve  or  fourteen  guns,  but  of  little  moment; 
because  all  their  soldiers,  and  the  majority  of  the  inhabitants,  arc 
/orr'di/ixs,  or  forced  people,  having  been  malefactors  in  some  parts  of 
Mexico,  therefore  are  confined  in  that  place  fur  a  number  of  years, 
according  to  the  nature  of  their  crinjcs.  In  short,  they  are  not  unlike 
our  felons,  which  are  transj)orted  from  the  jails  in  l']ngland  to  the  plan- 
tations. The  French,  in  the  year  1719,  took  this  fort  with  small  loss 
from  the  Spaniard,  who,  in  a  few  months,  retook  it  again.  The  first 
of  those  made  thcnselvcs  masters  thereof  a  second  time,  but  whether 
they  have  deserted  it,  or  keep  it  still  in  their  possession,  I  know  not. 

If  the  French  secure  this  port  and  harbor,  which  is  not  above  four- 
teen leagues  east  of  their  chief  settlement  at  ]Mobile,  they  may  with 
ease,  at  all  seasons,  infest,  with  large  men  of  war  and  privateers,  the 
navigation  of  the  Fnglish  and  Spaniards  in  the  IJay  of  Mexico,  by 
lying  in  wait  for  and  intercepting  their  fleets  and  private  .ships,  trtuling 
to  and  from  Panuco,  Vera  Cruz,  Campeche,  I'orto  liello,  Jamaica,  and 
the  Havana. 

Thirty  leagues  to  the  cast  is  Apalatchy-Cola,  which  is  also  a  good 
harbor,  and  west  of  Apalatchy  Iliver  thirty  leagues. 

The  Bay  of  Nassau  or  Spirito  Santo  is  made  by  four  islands,  which 
run  almost  due  south,  a  little  inclining  to  the  west.  The  most 
northerly,  between  which  and  the  main  is  the  entrance  of  the  bay,  being 
eight  leagues  long,  our  people  called  Mirtle  Island,  from  the  great 
quantity  of  that  tree  or  .shrub  which  grows  there,  where  digging  they 
found  excellent  good  water  very  plentifully.  This  island  in  some 
places  is  very  narrow.  AVhethcr  it  be  the  same  the  French  call  Isle 
aux  Vaisseaux,  or  Ship's  Island,  I  can't  tell;  but  its  situation,  distance 
from  isle  Diuphine,  or  Slaughter  Island,  and  its  commodiousncss  for 
sheltering  ships  frou^  the  wind,  creates  a  probability  of  its  being  so. 
The  bay  is  fifteen  miles  broad,  from  Mirtle  Island  to  a  row  of  islands 
which  run  parallel  with  the  main,  and  another  bay  or  higune  between 
them,  within  which  they  did  not  go.  These  islands  stretch  south- 
ward fifty  or  sixty  miles,  as  far  as  one  of  the  smaller  mouths  of  the 
Mcschacebc ;  and  doubtless  there  must  be  very  good  harbors,  being 
defended  from  the  sea  and  winds  by  a  double  row  of  islands,  and  having 
probably  good  depths.  Our  people  visited  only  the  most  northerly, 
which  they  named  Eose  Island,  a  most  fragrant  smell  coming  fioni  it 
three  leagues  off,  which  exceeded  all  perfumes;  it  is  about  sixteen 


II  r 


I    !  • 


•'1  ; 


!: 


Ii  1 


238 


IllSTOUIOAr,  COI.LKCTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


miles  Inn'/,  ami  two  Iciij^iii'S  or  more  from  flu;  northern  or  western 
main.  Hetwoen  this  and  .Mirtle  Island,  tho  depths  of  water  were  four, 
five,  si.\,  fivo,  four  fathoms.  l{ose  Island  is  a  bravo  island,  and  full  of 
wood.  They  fiiiind  it  somewhat  difficult  to  go  down  the  hay  between 
the  islands,  nu'ctinjL;  with  some  shoals,  where  they  had  not  mueh  above 
two  fathoms  water.  They  turned  round  Mirtle  Island  into  the  main 
sea,  and  coasted  the  east  side,  wdiieli  is  very  bold.  Over  ajrainsi  Mirtlo 
Island  to  the  north,  about  five  leagues  distance,  on  the  main  land,  is 
u  high  point  of  woods,  where  is  the  entrance  of  Little  3Ie.scliacebe,  or 
the  J'list  IJraneh,  which  I  mentioned  in  my  description  of  the  great 
river.  And  about  fifteen  leagues  to  the  north-east  of  this  br:inch  of 
the  I\le.-(diaeebe  is  the  Bay  of  Bilocidiy  (Hiloxi),  which  is,  within,  a 
fair  harbor,  withasnudl  river  falling  into  or  near  it,  called  I'assagoula, 
bordering  on  which  and  the  aforesaid  bay  is  u  fine  country,  but  on 
the  bar  there  is  not  above  seven  or  eight  feet  water.  It  was  on 
the  continent,  lying,  T  think,  on  the  easterly  part  of  this  bay,  that 
]\Ionsieur  d'  Iberville,  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  1700,  built  a  small 
sconce,  and  left  therein  about  forty  men,  well  provided  with  neces- 
saries. He  afterwards  returned  twice  to  France  for  further  reinforce- 
ments, but  on  his  third  voyage  back  to  IJilocohi  (IJiloxi)  he  died.  The 
French  being  about  that  time  hotly  engaged  in  a  war  with  the  Fnglish 
and  their  confederates  in  Europe,  this  and  another  small  settlement 
they  had  thereabouts  were  deserted,  for  want  of  timely  and  necessary 
supplies. 

Our  ship  passed  on  the  cast  side  of  ^lirtle  Island,  which  is  twenty-four 
miles  long,  and  throe  other  islands,  there  being  openings  between,  a  mile 
or  two  over.  The  fourth  and  last  island  is  the  broadest  and  highest, 
and  a  good  mark  to  iind  the  ]Meschacebe.  Those  islands  lie  altogether 
in  a  direct  line  south  and  by  west,  east  and  by  north,  at  least  fifty  miles, 
and  have  all  along,  two  leagues  off,  from  five  to  nine  fathom  water. 
"When  you  come  to  the  Fourth  Isle  you  must  be  cautious,  the  sound- 
ing being  uncertain ;  for  some  points  of  sand  stretch  out  into  the  sea 
throe  leagues,  and  varies  the  depths  from  nine  fathoms  to  four,  then 
eight,  nine,  all  at  once.  IJetwcen  this  island  and  the  main  is  a  passage 
two  leagues  broad,  which  loads  into  the  great  bay  from  which  they 
came.  The  length  of  the  bay  from  north  to  south  is  one  entire  de- 
gree. They  werit  divers  leagues  up  it,  and  found  deep  water;  but 
afterwards  it  shoaling,  they  came  down  south,  ami  doubled  the  cape, 
where  the  most  easterly  of  the  three  great  branches  of  the  Mesoha- 
cebe  entered  the  .sea,  which,  with  the  two  others  to  the  west,  I  de- 
scribed before,  when  I  gave  an  account  of  the  mouths  of  that  river. 


mXK's  (LOUIStANA)  rAri(tr,A.VA. 


t2:«) 


AltlKiiiuli  till'  latitude  iiml  l(iii<:ituili'  of  tin-  nmv.tli  nt'  lli  ■  Mr;-;cli!i- 
t'L'bo  wore  port'cctly  kiinwii.yot  it  is  almost  iiniiiisHiliK',  in  tlii<  cciiniiinn 
way  of  sailiiijL',  to  conio  at  tliciii;  for  if  you  go  iu'vcr  so  little  to  tlif 
south,  yoii  will  be  driven  by  a  very  stroni;  current  to  tlie  soutli-west, 
two  niiles  an  hour,  till  you  oonie  to  flie  Ixittdin  or  west  end  of  tlio 
(Inlf  of  ^[cxieo ;  to  prevent  which  you  must  make  the  main  of  Flo- 
rida in  ubout  thirty  degrees  of  latitude.  T'.ie  land  is  so  very  low  you 
can  scarcely  son  it,  at  four  leagues  distance,  where  there  is  forty-live 
and  fifty  fathom,  but  ten  leagues  ofl",  there  is  no  ground  at  one  hun- 
dred fathom,  i'liisacola  is  the  most  convenient  place  to  fall  in  withal; 
and  to  be  sure  of  that,  your  best  way  is  to  make  tlu;  Tortiiga  Islands, 
which  are  seven,  and  but  few  leagues  distance  to  the  north-west  from 
the  (!apo  of  Florida,  and  the  little  ishuids  which  lie  befure  it,  called 
Los  Martyres.  The  Tortuga  Island>  lie  bitween  the  latitude  of  twen- 
ty-four degrees  and  from  thirty-live  to  lifty  minutes.  They  are  not 
in  a  round,  as  commonly  represented  by  tlie  charts,  but  bear  aliuvist 
north  and  south.  If  you  come  there  in  the  month  of  April,  -^lay,  or 
the  beginning  of  June,  you  will  find  great  numbers  of  turtle,  which 
are  then  in  good  plight,  extraordinary  good  food,  both  fresh  and 
salted,  and  a  whole.somc  change  of  diet  for  seamen j  afterwards  they 
will  not  w(dl  take  salt,  decaying  and  running  into  a  jelly  or  water, 
and  befiiroJuly  is  cxpiroil  (piite  leave  the  islands  until  the  next  year. 
The  course  from  the  Tortuga  Islands  to  IVnsacola  is  X.  44  W .  di.itanee 
one  hundred  and  (ifty-cight  leagues,  the  shore  bold,  bearing  east  and 
west.  Nine  leagues  from  the  land  you  will  have  thirty-thrLC  fathoms 
Y.'ater,  but  if  you  make  the  river  of  the  Co/.as  or  ('oussas,  which  is  one 
hundred  and  sixty-seven  leagues,  and  a  very  remarkable  pkun',  being 
a  spacious  large  opening,  having  a  small  .^amly  isle  in  the  middle,  j'ou 
will  (ind  the  land  stretch  east  and  west,  and  within  about  eigliteen 
leagues  you  will  fall  in  with  Mirtle  Island,  which,  with  the  .'Main, 
makes  the  entnnice  into  the  great  ]>ay  of  ^'pirito  Santo;  in  \\hich 
isle,  as  I  said  befure,  is  very  good  fresh  water.  This  with  live  or  six 
other  low  isles,  run  a  range  fourteen  leagues,  and  8.  W.  from  them, 
about  five  leagues,  are  high  v.'oods  :  stai.d  over  for  tlu;  s  nith  jiart  of 
these  woods,  until  you  coino  to  four  falleniis,  there  cast  your  anchor, 
and  send  your  boat  to  a  I03V  point  along  the  shore  to  the  .southward. 
In  five  foot  water  you  will  find  a  small  branch  of  the  river;  row  up  it; 
the  current  will  carry  you  to  the  bar,  where  yon  may  take  your  marks 
for  the  entrance  into  it.  Perhaps  soinetimt's  the  waters  may  be  .so 
low  that  you  cannot  pa.ss  this  channel.      In  case  this  should  happen 


ifii 


fi 


i 


•J 


•J40 


niHTORK'AL  COLLKCTIONS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


(wlilch  1  siippns(!  it  Sfliloin  or  ni)V((r  ddoa),  tlion  run  l>y  flio  snuiidinps 
uf  tlu!  sliori',  in  llvo  or  six  font  wjitcr,  and  koop  tli;it  dcptli  till  yon 
fonio  to  tlio  pit(di  of  tlu)  Kiist  Capu,  wliori!  you  will  find  tlu;  ciiHtcrly 
brunch  in  fourteen  or  lifteon  feet  water  :  then  row  up,  take  your 
marks,  return,  and  plac<)  two  bu(tya,  and  you  may  carry  your  .ship  into 
the  river  very  aafely,  as  you  may  piTceivo  by  tlu;  draii^dit.  The 
same  or  like  caution  must  be  used  for  entering  into  either  of  the  other 
mouths,  to  keep  near  the  .shore,  ami  by  anchorini^  stop  the  tide  of 
ebb.  There  is  a  bay,  which  our  men  in  the  .ship  called  Salt-Water 
Bhy  ;  they  who  wont  to  the  head  of  it,  Fresh-Water  IJay  ;  a  seeming 
contradiction,  but  thus  easily  reconciled.  This  bay  lies  between  the 
oast  and  middle  ;.'reat  branch  of  the  river  :  the  great  branches  bring 
down  so  considerable  a  (piantity  of  water,  at  the  ebb,  with  a  strong 
current,  that  then  the  fresh  water  enters  the  sea  two  or  three  leagues, 
and  between  them  the  sea  enters  this  bay,  not  mixing  with  the  waters 
of  the  rivers,  which  are  ten  miles  distant ;  so  that  ships  who  anchor 
at  the  lower  end  of  the  bay  lind  the  water  salt.  ]5ut  th(;re  is  a  creek, 
ut  the  N.  W.  end  of  the  bay,  which  comes  out  of  tlu;  middle  branch, 
and  a  little  before  it  enters  the  bay  is  divided.  This  creek  hath  from 
eight  feet  at  the  shallowest  to  nine,  ten  and  eleven  feet  water,  by 
which  they  entered,  out  of  Salt-Water  IJay,  into  the  river. 

Having  made  a  faithful  narrative,  from  good  journals  and  itinera- 
ries by  seaand  land,  of  the  great  river  Mcscliacebo,  the  rivers  increasing 
it,  the  countries  adjacent,  and  inhabitants  thereof,  as  also  of  the  coun- 
tries, pc(»ple,  rivers  and  harbors  towards  the  east  belonging  unto  this 
province,  which  do  not  communicate  with  it,  T  shall  give  a  brief  rola- 
ti(m  of  what  1  have  learned  concerning  the  sea  and  coast  thereof 
beyond  the  Jfeschacebo,  to  the  west,  the  rivers  belonging  to  this  pro- 
vince, their  heads  and  courses,  which  enter  not  the  Meschaccbe. 

When  you  are  passed  the  third  or  westerly  branch  of  the  Mcschacebe, 
there  presents  it.sclf  a  fair  bay  going  to  the  north,  into  which  empty 
themselves  two  of  the  smaller  branches  of  the  great  river,  as  niay  be 
discerned  in  the  chart.  This  bay  is  between  twenty  .ind  thirty  miles 
deep,  and  very  bold  to  the  east,  having  from  the  entrance  unto  the 
bottom,  from  twenty-five  to  six  fathom  ;  but  is  not  in  those  depths 
above  seven  or  eight  miles  broad,  a  sand  running  from  the  main  thirty 
miles  south  into  the  sea,  upon  which  there  is  not  above  three  fathoms, 
which  yet  our  .ship  passed,  going  and  returning.  At  the  north-east 
end  of  the  bay,  the  great  river  runs  parallel  with  it  for  some  miles, 
from  a  mile  to  a  mile  and  a  half  distance  from  it,  and  two  fair,  large 
deep  creeks  enter  it,  almost  in  the  middle,  out  of  the  westerly  great 


>OM:'t«  (t.OinsiANA)  CAUOl.AXA. 


'J  11 


tliis 
rehi- 

pro- 


■oaist 
iloiJ, 
argc 
ro;it 


bniiU'h  III'  till  livii".  Iluviiiy  j)a>si.il  this  «'aii!il  to  tlu'  i.i  liii,  tin'  I;iiiil 
runs  aliimst  duo  i'a.»l  iiiiil  \wat,  haviiiy  a  ImM  coaf^f,  I'mi-  a  Iniiili'iil 
iniK's  until  yciu  cniiio  to  a  groat  HJitial,  wIktu  i\n-iv  is  uof  •,i]n)\<-  tvv  i 
or  llnvf  tatlmuis  \safi'r,  with  Hovoral  liroakors.  ()\ir  iumijiIi-  ^aili  d  'in 
the  .south  .""iile  ol'  this  groat  hlmal,  always  nut  of  tho  si^ht  nf  lauil, 
thorofciro  knew  not  tin;  breadth.  'J'hoy  kcjit  noar  tlio  latituilo  cf  'J'.t 
ik'j^rct'.s,  tlu;  ilopth  g(;nt'rally  as  follows,  sivou,  eight,  iiiiio,  ('Ip;ht,  scvni, 
six  fathoms.  At  length  thoy  caiiio  to  tho  bottom  of  tho  l>ay  nr  L''ilf, 
from  whoiKM!  thoy  roturuod  unto  the  wi'.-torly  br.iiioli  of  tho  .Mr-chi- 
cebc. 

l''riim  tli!;  rlvor  Mosohacidto  unto  tho  buttom  of  tho  bay,  aro  Innu- 
merablo  lino  Miiall  rivor.-',  \ory  ploasant.  (Jroat  storo  of  butValirs  dr 
wild  kino  frotjuont  tlu  in  to  tho  vory  soa-siilo,  as  al.'^o  door  nf  divors 
sort.s,  wild  turkoy,-;,  and  many  othor  largo  wator  and  .soa-fowl ;  tho  r.ia«t 
abounds  with  gnod  fish  ;  but  I  cannot  loarn  thore  aro  abovo  fun"  vory 
hirgo  rivors,  and  of  long  oourso. 

Tiio  first  and  greatest  is  that  of  tho  (^mmoatinnos,  or  of  tho  Cuonis, 
a  great  and  imjiulous  nation,  who  dwell  in  fnrty  or  liffy  villa,u'e>  upnn 
the  niiddlo  of  this  river,  and  others  wdiieh  run  into  it.  Tin  y  are 
about  live  day,-'  journey  distant  from  tho  habifalions  of  the  Spinii.'inl-. 
and  near  il(MI  miles  from  tho  sea,  into  whii-h  tho  river  omj)ties  it-<lf, 
about  oighiy  leagues  to  the  west  of  tho  jNb'sol:ac(djo ;  it  is  brnad. 
deep,  and  navigable  almost  to  its  heads,  whioli  chiefly  proceed  fmm 
tho  ridge  of  hills  that  .separate  this  proviiieo  fi.>m  New  .Mexici.  .\iid 
its  north-west  branehos  approach  near  the  south-west  branches  nf  fl;o 
river  of  tho  Iloumas.  There  dwell  upon  it,  more  towards  its  mouth, 
divers  others  nations,  wdio.so  nan)os  are  unknown,  excepting  the 
Taraluis,  Tycappans,  I'aloguesseus  and  I'alonnas.  All  these  nations 
have  good  horses. 

About  thirty  leagues  further  to  the  south  of  tho  west  is  tho  rivr 
of  the  Kirniionas,  wdio  with  divers  other  nations  dwelt  tluTouii'm.  It 
is  little  less  than  that  uf  tb.o  Konoatinnos,  and  as  that  hath  its  sources 
in  the  mountains  of  New  3Iexico,  the  course  of  this  is  likewise  fnm 
the  north-west,  until  it  enters  the  sea. 

Iktwoon  this  and  tho  aforesaid  river  of  Quonnatinnns  or  (Vionis 
lies  the  IJay  of  St.  T'ernard,  called  by  Monsieur  do  la  Sallo  tho  IJay 
of  8t.  Louis,  and  a  river  that  falls  into  it  he  named  the  Jliver  of 
Vachcs.  In  tho  year  Uj^T)  he  built  there  a  fort  (after  he  had  pur- 
posely, as  it  is  said,  ovorsliot  the  mouth  of  the  river  Meschacebc), 
having  formed  a  design  fnnn  thence  to  visit  the  mines  of  i^t.  I'arbe 
in  New  lJi.scay,  which  were  not  much  above  oOO  miles  distant.  ])Ut 
17 


042 


IIISTOniCAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


one  of  his  vessels  returning  to  France,  and  the  otlier  three  being  lost 
with  great  part  of  his  stores,  annnunition  and  provisions,  withal  fail- 
ing in  ins  attempt  to  engage  the  Indians  in  his  party  and  interest, 
who,  instead  of  friends,  proved  his  mortal  enemies,  continually  skulk- 
ing about  his  infant  settlement  and  destroying  many  of  his  people, 
he  was  obliged  to  desist  from  that  enterprise,  lie  afterwards  with 
twenty  chosen  men  went  by  land  in  search  of  the  river  3Ieschacebe, 
in  which  attempt  he  lost  his  life,  being  barbarously  murdered  by  some 
of  his  own  followers.  This  fort  was  soon  after  taken  and  destroyed 
by  the  Spaniards  and  Indians,  all  the  French  remaining  therein  being 
either  killed  or  made  prisoners. 

About  the  same  distance  further  S.  W.  is  the  river  of  the  Bisca- 
tcrongs,  which  is  of  the  same  magnitude  with  the  former,  hath  the 
same  course  from  the  north-west  to  the  sea,  and  its  heads  from  the 
same  mountains. 

The  last  river  of  note  is  a  river  of  much  the  same  bigness  with  the 
two  preceding,  and  enters  the  Bay  of  Mexico  at  the  north-west  end, 
between  the  degrees  of  27  and  28;  it  is  named  Abotas. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  to  mention  another  river,  which,  although  it 
may  not  be  within  the  bounds  of  this  colony,  may  be  of  great  use, 
when  it  is  well  established,  by  reason  of  the  conveuiency  of  traffic 
with  the  Spaniards,  it  being  near  the  aforesaid  famous  mines  of  New 
Biscay,  a  large  province  lying  between  INIexico  and  New  Mexico. 
This  stately  river  hath  its  fountains  in  the  most  northerly  parts  of 
New  Mexico,  in  the  latitude  of  o8  degrees,  and  being  gradually  in- 
creased by  the  conflux  of  many  small  waters,  becomes  large  u:>d 
navigable,  till  it  approaches  the  oOth  degree;  then  it  turns  to  the  S. 
E.  and  enters  a  parcel  of  high  mountains;  from  whence  it  is  no  fur- 
ther navigable;  it  is  called  by  the  Spaniards  Ilio  Bravo.  They  differ 
in  their  accounts  hereof;  some  affirming  it  is  here  swallowed  up  in  a 
hideous  gulf,  and  passes  three  days'  journey  under  the  earth,  like 
their  great  river  Guadiana  in  Spain,  of  which  their  famous  ambassador 
Gundamore  said,  when  a.skcd  whether  his  master  could  show  such  a 
bridge  as  that  over  the  Thames  at  London,  that  he  had  a  bridge  upon 
which  many  hundred  thousand  sheep  daily  fed.  Others  write  that 
the  river  doth  not  dive  underground,  but  passes  among  rocks  full  of 
straight  passages,  with  many  cataracts;  that  after  it  has  broke  its  way 
through,  it  glides  very  placidly  cross  a  level  country  for  a  hundred 
and  fifty  miles,  being  both  large  and  deep,  and  at  length  empties 
itself  into  a  broad  and  long  lagune,  which  is  navigable,  with  two  or 
three  passages  into  it,  between  the  islands  that  form  it,  and  whose 


coxe's  (Louisiana)  caholana. 


243 


cntratioos  arc  at  least  botwocn  tliroo  ami  four  fatlunii  (loop.  T  liavc  a 
journal  of  Capt.  Parker,  who  in  the  year  1G8S  was  there  with  two 
ships  :  one  very  large,  in  search  of  a  Spanish  wreck,  but  will  not 
trouble  my  reader  with  the  relation  of  what  there  happened  to  them. 
All  accounts  agree  this  country  is  well  watered,  that  it  abounds  witli 
vast  quantities  of  wild  kino,  the  Spaniards  call  Cibolas,  and  is  fruit- 
ful, pleasant  and  populous. 

I  think  it  not  inexpedient  to  give  an  account  of  the  great  seas  or 
lakes  of  fresh  water  which  arc  to  the  north  of  this  country,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Meschacebe,  which  though  not  in  the  bounds  of  this 
province,  may  prove  very  beneficial,  both  to  the  inhaltitants  of  this  and 
our  colonies  of  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  [Maryland,  and  Virginia,  who 
are  not  very  remote  from  some  of  them,  and  may  have  an  easy  access 
thereunto,  and  consequently  by  navigation  witli  tliose  th;it  are  more 
remote,  they  having  all  communications  with  each  other,  as  may  bo 
presently  discerned  by  the  map. 

The  seas  or  lakes  are  five.  First,  the  superior  lake  before  mentidui'd, 
it  being  of  all  most  northerly,  and  is  called  by  most  of  the  savages 
the  Lake  of  the  Madoucssons  (iSuperior),  thcgreati^st  and  most  valiant 
nation  of  the  north,  divided  into  several  tribes,  who  go  by  divers 
names.  This  lake  is  esteemed  at  least  150  leagues  in  length,  sixty 
leagues  in  breadth,  and  500  in  circumference.  The  south  side, 
which  we  reckon  its  length,  is  all  along  situated  in  very  near  forty- 
eight  degrees  of  latitude  from  the  cast  end  to  the  west.  The  north 
side  where  it  is  broadest,  is  in  about  fifty-one  degrees.  It  is  all  over 
navigable,  hath  some  i  'es;  but  one  especially  calh.'d  Minong,  above 
sixty  miles  in  compass,  wherein,  both  Indians  and  French  affirm,  is  a 
great  mine  of  very  pure  copper,  which  from  the  ore  atlbnls,  without 
any  preparation  besides  melting,  above  three-fifths  fine  metal.  It  is 
very  remarkable  of  this  sea,  that  on  all  the  south  side  upon  the  shore, 
it  is  not  above  four  or  five  fathoms  deep,  and  gradually  increasing  as 
you  pass  over  to  the  north,  until  you  cannot  find  bottom  with  150 
fathoms  of  line.  ^  It  is  most  wonderfully  stored  with  aihnirable  fish, 
and  the  land  about  it  with  deer  and  elk,  or  moo.so,  especially  the  north 
side.  With  this  hitter  and  some  islands,  the  French  drive  a  consider- 
able trade  among  the  natives,  for  skins  and  furs;  and  of  late  years 
have  interceptfHl  a  great  part  of  the  more  remote  Indians,  wlio  used 
formerly  to  trallick  with  the  English  in  Hudson's  Buy,  at  Port  Nel- 
son and  New  iSevern.  This  lake  or  ,sea  is  made  up  of  innuiufraljle 
small  rivers  and  rivulets,  and  three  large  rivers,  all  on  the  north  side 
of  the  lake,  entering  at  the  N.  E.  end  thereof,  whose  names  are  Lemi- 


1 1 


: 

11 


I 

!      'I 


•244 


HISTUUICAL  C<J]-1-KCT10NS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


pLssuki,  Mieliipikctuu  and  Xciuipigun,  which  last  proceeds  out  of  a 
lake  of  the  same  name,  full  of  islands;  at  the  upper  end  whereof  enters 
II  river,  which  comes  from  the  north,  and  hath  its  origin  from  divers 
small  lakes  and  marshes.  The  lake  of  Xemipigou  is  above  200  miles  in 
compass.  The  IJarou  le  llontan  is  certainly  mistaken  ahout  the 
original  of  this  river,  and  makes  it  vastly  higger  than  it  is;  ho  accounts 
it  the  head  of  the  gri'ut  river  of  Canada  or  St.  Lawrence,  and  to  come 
out  of  the  lake  of  the  Assenipouvals ;  but  I  have  been  informed  by 
a  person  who  lived  two  years  in  those  parts,  and  had  often  been 
upon  these  two  lakes,  that  the  lake  of  the  Assiuepoualaos  (for  that 
is  the  true  name),  which  is  considerable  to  the  X.  W.,  and,  as  the 
Indians  often  assured,  was  the  biggest  lake  in  all  this  northern  con- 
tinent, had  no  communication  with  that  of  Xemii>igon.  The  N.  W. 
of  this  Lake  Superior  or  of  the  Nadeuessons,  is  not  above  thirty 
leagues  in  a  straight  line  from  the  Lake  of  Xemiitigun;  but  the  com- 
munication by  land  is  difficult,  liy  reason  the  earth  abounds  with  bogs 
and  marshes.    -■> 

The  great  or  superior  lake  empties  itself  into  that  of  Karegnondi 
or  the  deep  lake,  it  being  in  most  parts  more  profound  than  the  three 
we  shall  hereafter  mention.  Formerly  it  was  called  the  lake  IIouu- 
ondate,  from  a  great  nation  who  inhabited  on  its  east  side,  named  from 
their  bristly  hair  on  their  head,  llourons,  since  totally  destroyed  or 
dispersed  into  very  remote  parts  by  the  Iroeois. 

This  lake;  is  much  of  the  figure  of  an  equilateral  triangle,  whose 
basis  is  to  the  north.  It  abounds  with  divers  sorts  of  excellent  fish, 
great  and  small,  especially  a  largo  lish  named  Assihcndo,  of  the  big- 
ness of  Newfoundland  cod.  This  fish  is  the  manna  of  most  of  the 
nations  which  inhabit  about  the  lake,  being  half  their  .subsistence. 
And  Europeans  of  all  nations,  who  have  eaten  thereof,  agree  that 
there  is  not  in  seas  or  rivers  a  better  tasted,  more  wholesome  fish, 
and  the  numbers  are  sucli  as  of  cod  on  the  l>ank  of  New  Foundland, 
and  never  to  be  lessened.  IJesides  these,  there  is  abundance  of  good 
sturgeons,  salmon  or  salmon  trout,  Vv'eighiug  from  twenty  to  fifty 
pounds,  large  carps,  and  many  other  kinds  of  fi^h,  small  and  great, 
not  inferior  to  any  in  I'iUrope.  The  inhabitants  almost  round  this 
lake  are  mostly  destroyed  by  the  Iroeois  (Iro(juois),  except  a  small 
remnant  of  twn  uv  three  ntitions,  who  have,  with  the  help  of  the 
French,  erected  a  strong  Ibrt  near  another  built  by  that  nation  for  a 
refuge  to  their  allies  and  traders,  when  the  Iroeois  happen  to  invade 
this  or  the  adjacent  parts.  This  lake  hath  many  islands,  especially 
on  the  north  side,  v.here  the  greatest  fishery  is  for  the  As-iheudo,  but 


COXE's  (LOUISIANA)  f'AROr.ANA. 


245 


■  the 


and, 
rood 
iifty 
rcat, 

this 
mall 

the 
or  a 
vade 
ially 

but 


110110  at  Maiiitnialin,  which  is  twoiity  leau'ucs  lioiu'  and  ten  hrnad, 
lying  directly  over  au.ainst  the  continent,  from  wliioh  it  is  only  six  or 
seven  Icaguos  distant. 

The  north  side  of  the  country  bordering  upon  this  lake,  is  not  so 
pleasant  in  most  places  as  the  south,  east,  and  west;  but  to  make 
amends,  it  abounds  with  all  sorts  of  skins  and  furs,  and  hath  these 
great  conveniences,  that  by  the  river  of  the  Xepiserini,  there  is  a 
communication  with  all  the  i^'rench  of  (^anada,  and  many  nations  bor- 
dering thereupon  ;  for  ascending  this  river,  you  enter  into  a  large  lake 
of  the  same  name,  which  is  made  by  divers  small,  and  one  largo 
river  coming  far  from  the  north-west.  Near  this  lake  passes  the 
great  river  of  the  Outouaeks  (Ottoes),  once  a  great  nation,  but  now 
almost  (extirpated  by  the  aforesaid  Iroeois,  whic!'  fter  a  course  of  one 
hundred  leagues,  brings  you  to  the  Island  and  y  of  ^lontrral,  the 
next  for  bigness  and  strength  to  (^Jucbee,  the  capital  of  Canada,  and 
there  joins  with  the  great  river  of  Ft.  Lawrence;  from  the  juncture 
of  these  two  rivers  to  (Quebec  is  sixty  leagues.  ]>oth  sides  of  tlie 
river  are  inhabited  all  the.  v;ay  in  plantatioiis  very  little  remote  fi'oni 
ea<'h  other;  besides  two  or  three  small  towns  and  fortifications.  Such 
another  communication  there  is,  though  mneh  more  easy,  of  which  T 
shall  discourse  at  large  when  I  come  to  describe  the  lovely  peninsula 
of  Erie. 

Towards  the  lower  end  of  the  south-west  continent  is  the  large  and 
fair  bay  of  Sakinam,  which  is  about  fifty  miles  deep  and  eighteon 
wide,  and  in  the  middle  of  the  opening  ;ire  two  isles,  very  advan- 
tageously situated  for  sheltering  boats  or  other  vessels  that  happen  <;o 
be  surprised  with  a  storm,  there  being  no  other  harbor  within  divers 
leagues.  Into  the  bottom  of  this  bay  empties  itself,  after  a  cou'.^e  of 
sixty  leagues,  a  very  still,  quiet  stream,  excepting  three  small  falls, 
passed  easily  and  without  the  least  danger.  On  this  river,  anil  the 
branches  thereof,  is  one  of  the  greatest  beaver-huntings  in  America. 
Twenty  leagues  from  this  ]>ay  to  the  south-east,  this  lake,  which  is 
above  four  hundred  leagues  in  circumference,  empties  itself  into  the 
Lake  Erie,  by  a  channel  which  I  shall  describe,  when  I  have  given  an 
account  of  the  lake  of  the  Jllinouecks,  which  is  to  tlu.'  west  of  Ka- 
regnondi,  and  connnunicates  therewith,  towards  the  N.  W.  end,  by  a 
strait,  nine  or  ten  miles  long  and  three  or  four  broad.  The  breailth 
of  it  on  the  north  coast  is  forty  l"agues,  Init  it  increases  gradually  in 
breadth  till  you  come  to  the  bottom  of  the  b;iy.  The  north  side  is 
in  the  latitude  of  forty-six  and  thirty  minutes;  the  sunth  in  almost 
forty-three  degrees,      l-'orty  leagues  fro)u   the   entrance   due   west,  it 


)  ^ 


•'  Jl 


240 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


UKilvCS  tlio  grout  bay  of  tliu  PoutouMtaiuis,  a  nation  who  inhabit  a 
hira-o  country  upon  and  to  tho  ^outli  of  tliis  bay,  which  is  eight 
leagues  broad,  and  tliirty  kiague.s  deep,  south  and  liy  west,  the  entrance 
being  full  of  islands.  And  into  the  bottom  conies  tho  fair  I'ivcr  31is- 
conaijui,  after  a  course  of  two  hundred  rniles.  This  river  is  remark- 
able upon  divers  accounts:  lirst,  when  you  are  ascended  it  fifty  leagues, 
there  is  a  carriage  of  a  little  above  a  league  and  a  half;  afterwards 
you  meet  with  tho  lovely  Ilivcr  Mesconsing,  which  carries  you  down 
into  the  iMeschacebe,  as  I  before  declared.  Next  upon  this  river,  es- 
pecially near  the  carriage,  is  a  country  famous  for  beaver-hunting  like 
that  of  iSakinum.  You  must  know  that  most  parts  of  North  America 
have  beavers;  you  shall  scarce  meet  with  a  lake  where  there  are  not 
some  of  their  dams  and  huts.  ]5ut  tli(!so  two  places  I  have  mention- 
ed, and  others  I  shall  speak  of  hereafter,  are  countries  forty  or  fifty 
miles  long,  abounding  with  .'^mall  rivers  and  rivulets,  wherewith  they 
make  their  dams  or  causeways;  and  consequently  small  lakes,  seated 
opportunely  for  w>.)d  to  build,  and  produces  plentifully  such  plants 
and  young  trees,  upon  which  they  mostly  subsist.  This  is  chiefly 
possessed  by  the  in<lustrious  and  valiant  nation  of  the  Outogamis. 
Tliirdl}',  this  river  and  others  entering  thereinto  abound  in  that  corn 
vailed  malomin,  which  grows  in  tho  water  and  mar.shy  wet  places,  as 
rice  ia  the  Indies,  Turkey,  and  Carolina,  &c.  ]>ut  much  more  like 
our  oats,  only  longer,  bigger  and  better,  than  either  that,  or  Indian 
corn,  and  is  the  chief  food  of  many  nations  hereabouts  and  elsewhere. 
The  nations  who  dwell  on  this  river  are  Outogamis,  Malominis, 
\ikic,  Oualeanieou,  8acky,  and  the  Poutouatamis  before  mentioned. 

On  the  east  side  of  this  lake,  about  twenty  leagues  from  the  strait 
by  which  it  enters  Karognondi,  is  a  bay  caileJ  Bear  Bay,  and  a  river 
of  the  same  name,  because  of  great  numbers  of  those  animals  who 
haunt  tho.se  parts.  This  river  comes  out  of  a  ridge  of  hills  near  a 
liuudrod  leagues  long,  beginning  almost  at  the  north  end  of  this 
peninsula,  out  of  which  flow  abundance  of  small  rivers ;  those  whoso 
course  is  to  the  east  empty  themselves  into  the  lake  Karognondi 
(Huron),  those  to  the  west  into  that  of  the  Alinouecks.  The 
top  of  this  ridge  of  hills  is  flat,  from  whence  there  is  a  delicious  pros- 
pect into  both  lakes,  and  level  as  a  tarasso  Avalk.  There  is  a  groat 
beaver-hunting,  like  those  1  formerly  mentioned,  upon  ]>ear  Kiver, 
which  hath  a  course  of  forty  or  lifty  leagues.  On  tho  west  side  of 
tiie  lake,  before  you  come  to  the  bottom,  is  a  harbor  capable  of  small 
ships;  and  there  enters  into  it  a  small  river,  which  at   two  leagues 


COXE's  (LOUISIANA)  CAROLANA. 


247 


of 
ill 

cs 


distance  approaclios  tlio  Ilivcr  Cliieaifou,  tlio  uorth  branch  of  tlio  river 
of  the  Allinouecks,  which  is  from  the  main  branch  of  the  f^aid  river 
fifty  miles.  Near  the  bottom  of  the  bay,  on  the  east  side,  is  the  fair 
river  of  the  3Iiamihas  (so  called  because  upon  it  lives  part  of  a  jiation 
bearing  the  same  name),  which  in  its  passage  comes  within  two  leagues 
of  the  great  easterly  branch  of  the  river  of  the  Allinouecks,  and  its 
springs  are  very  near  the  heads  of  some  rivers  which  enter  the  ( )ua- 
bachi.  Monsieur  do  la  Salic  on  his  first  arrival  in  this  river,  which 
was  about  the  year  l(i7!*,  finding  it  admirably  well  situated  for  trade, 
and  the  country  surrounding  it  extremely  pleasant  and  fertile,  artfully 
gained  the  permission  of  the  natives  to  build  a  fort  therein,  under  the 
specious  pretence  of  protecting  them  from  the  insults  of  the  Knglish 
and  Iroeois,  whom  he  represented  as  cruel  and  treacherous  enemies, 
continually  plotting  the  destruction  of  them  and  all  the  Indians 
round  about.  In  this  fort  was  formerly  a  great  magazine  and  store- 
house for  all  sorts  of  European  goods,  and  hither  the  traders  and  sa- 
vages continually  resorted  to  purchase  them.  It  commanded  the 
entrance  into  the  lake,  and  kept  all  the  neighboring  Indians  in  awe 
and  subjection.  Nations  to  the  west  of  this  lake,  besides  the  before- 
mentioned,  are  part  of  the  Outogamis,  Mascoutens  and  Kikpouz; 
then  the  Ainovcs,  the  Cascaschia,  and  a  little  to  the  south-west  of  the 
bottom  of  this  lake,  and  more  to  the  north,  tlie  Anthontans,  and  part 
of  the  Mascoutens,  near  the  river  IMisconsing  (Wisconsin).  The 
countries  surrounding  this  lake,  especially  towards  the  south,  are  very 
charming  to  the  eye,  the  meadows,  fruit  trees  and  forests,  together 
with  the  fowls,  wild  beasts,  iV'c,  affurding  most  things  necessary  for 
the  support  and  comfort  of  life,  besides  Indian  corn,  with  which  the 
natives  abound;  and  European  fruits,  grains,  and  all  other  useful 
veg(!tables,  by  reason  of  the  goodness  of  the  soil,  and  mildness  of  the 
climate,  would  certainly  thrive  there,  as  well  as  in  their  native 
countries.  But,  above  all,  the  south  parts  of  the  countries  bordering 
on  this  lake  seem  naturally  disposed  to  proiluce  admirable  vines,  which 
being  duly  cultivated,  excelloit  wines  might  be  made  of  t]\e  fruits 
thereof,  they  growing  naturally  in  vast  numbers  of  divers  sorts,  some 
ramping  up  to  the  tops  of  the  highest  trees;  others  running  upon 
the  ground.  The  grapes  are  some  vmy  small,  others  wonderfully 
largo,  big  as  damsons,  and  many  of  a  middle  size,  of  divers  colors  and 
tastes.  They  are  all  good  to  eat,  oidy  some,  which  otherwise  promise 
very  well,  have  great  stones  or  kernels  and  tough  skins,  which  certain- 
ly would  be  remedied  by  due  culture.     But  of  the  worst,  doubtless, 


I   'I 
■}'•  ' ' 

■I 


ipi 


P' 
I 


I 


iij. 


f 


9U 


I  \  I 


i 


!lf 


J- 


248 


iiistorica;,  collkctions  of  Louisiana. 


j;Ood  lnaiidy  niiglit  he  mwh,  wore  tluTO  arti.st?  anil  convenient  vcssiel,^ 
for  pressing',  i'ernieuting  iuul  distilling. 

There  ninil)lc  ahont  in  great  lionls,  especially  about  the  ])ottoni  of 
tlii.s  lake,  inlinite  (jtuuilities  of  wild  Idne,  some  hundreds  usually 
together,  which  is  a  great  part  of  the  sulisistenco  of  the  savages,  who 
live  upon  them  while  the  season  of  hunting  lasts;  for  at  those  times 
they  h'ave  their  towns  quite  empty.  Thoy  have  a  way  of  preserving 
their  llesh  without  salt  six  or  ei;.:ht  months,  whieh  both  looks  and 
eais  >i)  fresh,  strangers  apprehend  the  cattle  had  not  been  killed  one 
Week.  Iiesides,  they  use  the  hair,  or  rather  wool,  cut  off  their  hides, 
for  gai'uients  and  beds,  and  spin  it  into  yarn,  of  which  they  make 
great  bags,  wherein  they  put  the  ilesh  they  kill,  after  they  have  cured 
it,  to  bring  it  homo  to  their  houses;  for  their  huntings  are  from  the 
latter  end  of  autumn,  when  the  cattle  are  fat,  to  the  beginning  of  the 
spring;  and  of  the  hides  dressed  they  make  shoes*}  /a  mvajr. 

]3ut  it's  time  we  should  return  to  the  I/ake  Karegnondi  (I[uron), 
which  empties  itself  into  the  Lake  Erie,  by  a  channel  thirty  leagues 
long,  and  whore  narrowest  a  league  broad  ;  in  the  middle  where(>f  is 
a  small  lake,  called  by  the  Indians  Otseka,  ten  leagues  long,  and  seven 
or  eight  over,  being  of  an  oval  iiguro.  In  this  lake  and  channel  are 
divers  small  islands,  exceedingly  pleasant  and  fruitful,  in  which,  and 
all  the  country,  on  both  sides  of  them,  arc  great  quantities  of  beasts 
and  fowl,  as  deer  of  several  kinds,  wild  turkeys,  pheasants,  and  a 
large  excellent  fowl,  which  they  call  dindo's.  The  Lake  Eric  is 
about  a  hundred  leagues  long,  and  almost  equally  forty  broad.  Eight 
leagues  from  its  mouth  are  eight  or  ten  islands,  most  of  them  small; 
one  in  the  middle  is  five  or  six  miles  in  circumference,  and  all  very 
agreeable.  Near  the  mouth  on  the  west  side  is  a  hirge  harbor  for 
ships,  defended  from  most  winds,  made  like  cur  downs  by  a  great 
bank  of  sand;  though  winds  seldom  infest  this  lake,  in  respect  of  the 
others,  where  sometimes  they  rage  as  in  the  main  ocean,  so  that  it 
may  be  deservedly  called  the  Pacific  Jiako.  And  if  wc  may  give 
credit  to  the  relation  of  the  English  who  have  long  frequented  it,  and 
unanimously  agree  herein,  there  is  not  a  more  pleasant  lake  or  coun- 
try surrounding  it  in  the  universe.  It  is  not  indeed  so  deep  as  the 
others,  yet  is  in  all  places  navigable  by  the  greatest  ships,  there  being 
seldom  less  than  ten  or  twelve  fathom  water.  The  land  round  about 
it  is  perfectly  level,  abounding  with  trees,  both  for  timber  and  fruit; 
so  happily  placed  that  one  would  be  apt  to  apprehend  it  to  bo  a  work 
of  great  art,  and  contrived  to  declare  the  grandeur  and  magnificence 
of  some  mighty  emperor,  and  not  of  nature.     Abundance  of  small 


COXk's  (LOUISIANA)  CAROLANA. 


210 


IS 

;Iit 
all; 
•cry 

for 
rcat 

tliO 

,t  it 


ting 


petty  livois  ili.scliar;ro  tht'iiisolvcs  tlicroiiito,  amongst  Avliit-li  arc  fiur 
very  ciinsiderablc  ainl  reinaikablc.  One  about  ten  leagues  frein  the 
ontrauee  of  the  canal,  in  the  bottom  uf  the  west  end  of  the  lake,  that 
hath  a  course  of  sixty  leagues,  and  its  head  very  near  the  river  of  the 
Mianiilias,  which  runs  into  the  iS.  E.  side  of  the  Lake  of  tlie  Illi- 
nouecks,  by  means  whereof  there  is  a  short  and  easy  commuuicatiun 
therewith,  which  by  water  is  above  six  hunilrcd  miles. 

Fifty  miles  further  to  the  south,  at  the  same  west  end  '^f  this  lake, 
is  another  river  much  of  the  same  bigness  and  length  ;  and  aliout  and 
between  these  two  rivers,  every  year  in  the  season,  are  multitudes  of 
the  wild  kinc  called  Cibolas. 

At  the  8.  I'i.  cud  of  the  lake  there  is  a  third  river,  which  has  its 
rise  very  near  the  great  Susquehanna  river,  which  waters  part  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  aftt'rwards  empties  itself  into  the  north  end  of  the 
IJay  of  Cliesapeako  in  Maryland.  And  twenty  leagues  south-westerly 
is  another  fair  river  which  conies  near  fit'ty  leagues  out  of  the  country  ; 
from  Avhose  head,  which  issues  from  a  lake,  is  but  a  short  cut  to  the 
llivcr  Ohio,  from  whence  to  a  branch  of  the  aforcsiiid  Susquehanna 
lUver  is  about  one  league. 

By  tiiese  two  last-mentioned  rivers,  the  English  may  iiave  a  ready 
and  easy  communication  with  this  and  conscciuently  with  all  the  other 
lakes.  If  the  French  should  ever  settle  thereon,  which  for  above 
twenty  years  they  have  endeavored,  but  have  been,  in  great  measure, 
wonderfully  frustrated  by  the  Irocois,  our  subjects  or  allies,  they 
might  greatly  molest,  by  themselves  and  their  Indians,  the  colonies  of 
New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and  Virginia;  which,  I  hope,  by 
the  wisdom  and  care  of  his  majesty  and  ministry,  will  be  speedily 
prevented. 

At  the  north-cast  end  of  this  lake  is  anotlier  canal  f(U-ty  miles  long, 
and  in  most  places  a  league  broad,  called  by  the  natives  Niagara, 
having  a  delicate,  level,  beautiful,  fertile  country  on  each  side  of  it; 
but  being  passed  about  two-thirds  of  the  way,  it  is  straitened  by 
mighty  rocks,  and  precipitates  itself  several  hundred  feet,  being  the 
greatest  cataract  that  hath  ever  yet  come  to  our  knoMledge,  in  the 
whole  world.  This  lying  within  live  or  six  days'  journey  of  Albany 
and  Schenecteda  (two  remarkable  tov/ns  and  fortifications  of  New 
York),  and  adjacent  unto  our  confederates  or  subjects  the  Five  Nations, 
(by  the  French  called  Irocois),  especially  the  Sonnontovans  (by  somc' 
named  Senecas),  the  most  populous  of  the  five,  I  have  received  an  ac- 
count from  divers  persons,  who  have  with  great  attention  and  curi- 


i  -! :. 


m 


i  I 


■fi 


250 


ITlSTOUICATi  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


osity  viewed  it,  suiting  very  well  witli  the  description  Hennepin  gives 
tbcrenf,  wild  liad  been  tliere  several  times.  The  noise  of  such  a  nuil- 
titude  of  waters  falling  from  so  great  a  height  is  so  extraordinary, 
that  although  the  country  is  very  pleasant,  level,  and  fruitful  below 
the  fall,  yet  the  Sonnontovans  were  not  able  to  bear  it,  but  were 
forced  to  remove,  and  settle  two  leagues  lower.  I  have  had  it  from 
very  credible  people  that,  when  the  wind  sets  due  south,  they  have 
beard  it  distinctly  above  thirty  miles.  The  river,  as  may  be  easily 
im;igine(l,  below  this  cataract,  is  very  rapid  for  the  space  of  tlirce  or 
four  miles;  then  forsi.^  or  eight  is  more  placid  and  navigable,  until  it 
enters  the  Lalce()ntario,whie!i  is  eighty  leagues  long,  and  in  the  middle 
twenty-five  or  thirty  broad,  being  of  an  oval  figure.  The  name  of 
this  lake  in  the  Irocois  language,  that  nation  bordering  upon  it  to 
tlie  soutli,  signifies  tlie  pleasant  or  beautiful  lake,  as  it  may  be  deserv- 
edly styled  ;  tlie  country  round  it  being  very  champaign,  fertile,  and 
every  two  or  three  miles  watered  with  fine  rivulets.  It  Las  on  the 
south  side  three  fair  rivers;  that  next  the  fall  coming  out  of  the 
country  of  the  Sonnontovans,  the  middle  one  from  the  Onontages,  and 
its  origin  from  a  lake  within  a  league  of  their  capital  town,  Onontague, 
made  up  with  many  little  rivers  and  rivulets,  being  forty  miles  in 
circumference,  abounding  with  fish  of  divers  sorts  Avitli  some  salt- 
.springs  entering  into  it.  After  the  river  hath  passed  a  mile  from  the 
lake,  it  receives  another  coming  from  the  west,  out  of  the  province  of 
the  Onioiens  or  Oiongouens,  who  are  neighbors  of  the  Soimontovans, 
iu  whose  country  the  head  of  this  river  springs.  About  ten  miles 
lower  it  is  increiLsed  by  a  fair  deep  river,  which  comes  from  the  east, 
out  of  the  country  of  the  Oneiouks  (Oneidas),  one  of  the  five  nations, 
situated  between  the  Onontages  (Ouondagas)  and  the  Mohaehs  (Mo- 
hawks), who  dwell  in  three  towns  on  a  fair  river,  which  runs,  after  a 
course  of  one  hundred  miles,  into  Hudson's  Ivivtir  near  Albany.  The 
river  of  the  Ouontagues  enters  the  Lake  Ontario  fifty  miles  from  the 
little  lake  whence  it  derives  its  origin. 

Twenty  le;^;jues  to  the  cast  is  another  river,  somewhat  less,  but 
navigable  by  sloops  and  large  boats  a  considerable  way  into  the 
country. 

7\.bout  tlie  same  distance,  likewise  to  the  east,  the  lake  forms  a 
great  river,  which  the  French  call  the  river  of  the  Irccois,  but  the 
natives  Kanadari,  which  for  the  space  of  sixty  miles  is  very  broad, 
full  of  fine  islands,  and  runs  quietly;  then  is  interrupted  in  its 
rxiurse  by  divers  falls  successively,  some  very  deep  and  long,  for  above 
a  hundred  miles,  until  it  meets  with  tlie  great  river  of  the  Outouncks 


\  i 


no 


10  of 


a 

the 

its 


COXK's  (LOUISIANA)  CAROLANA. 


251 


at  the  ciul  of  tlio  island  and  city  of  >ronti'o:il,  ami  tojri'tliiT  with  that 
makes  the  rivor  of  Canada  or  St.  liawrenco,  so  named  by  the  I'Vonch 
because  discovered  on  the  day  dedicated  to  his  memorial. 

TIu!  north  part  of  the  Lake  Ontario  was  formerly  po.sscssod  hy  two 
tribes  of  the  Irocois,  who  were,  in  time  of  perfect  peace,  without  the 
least  provocation,  but  only  to  itd  their  country  destroyed,  cnslavetl, 
or  sent  to  France,  and  put  into  the  galleys;  of  which  you  may  read 
at  lar^'c  in  the  journals  of  the  IJaroii  la  Iluntan,  an  impartial  and 
judiciou.s  author,  who  .saw  ai/d  relates  that  tragedy  with  much  indigna- 
tion. 

The  nation  of  the  Irocois,  as  they  ore  called  by  the  French,  foi 
what  reason  T  could  never  learn,  who  inhabit  the  south  part  of  the 
country,  are  styled  by  the  FiUglish  the  Five  Nations,  being  so  many 
distinct  in  name  and  habitations  from  each  other;  but  leagued  by  a 
most  strict  confederacy,  like  the  Cantons  of  Switzerland,  which  they 
fre(iuently  in  a  very  solenni  manner  renew,  especially  since  the  iMcnch 
grew  powerful  in  their  neighborhood.  They  have  always  been  an 
excellent  and  useful  barrier  between  us  and  them,  being  ready,  on  all 
occasions,  upon  the  most  slender  invitations  and  the  least  assistance, 
to  molest  and  invade  them,  unto  whom  they  are  the  most  irreconcilable 
enemies,  and  1  think  upon  good  grounds;  although  the  F'rench  say 
the  hardest  things  imaginable  against  them  ;  but  I  believe  unto 
any  impartial  judges,  they  will  appear  more  blameable  themselves. 
The  original  of  this  enmity  proceeded  from  the  F'rcnch,  who  about 
one  hundred  years  since  .settled  at  the  place,  now  their  capital,  called 
Quebeck.  The  Irocois  knowing  of  the  little  I'rcnch  habitation  (where 
were  not  al)ove  forty  men),  came  according  to  their  usual  manner, 
being  about  200  of  their  prime  youth,  under  an  esteemed  captain,  to 
war  against  the  Algonquins,  then  a  very  populous  nation;  and  to 
show  their  contempt  of  them,  made  a  fort  on  the  south  side  of  the 
river,  before  they  who  dwelt  on  the  north  side  could  gather  into  a 
body,  their  habitations  or  villages  being  somewhat  remote  fr(>m  each 
other.  Ikit  having  drawn  their  forces  together  in  groat  numbers,  they 
attacked  the  Irocois,  who  always  valiantly  repidsed  them,  with  groat 
lo.sses  to  their  enemies  and  little  unto  tluniLselves.  Whereupon  the 
Algon(juins  had  recourse  unto  the  F'rench,  desiring  thoy  would  as.sist 
them  with  their  thunder  and  lightning-darting  engines.  They  readily 
complioil,  and  did  such  execution  with  their  gmis  (which  being  alto- 
gotlier  now  and  very  surprising,  or  rather  astonishing),  that  the  Irocois 
were  discomfited,  not  above  two  or  three  escaping  to  give  an  account 
thereof  to  their  own  countrymen,  who  by  tradition  have  propagated 


m 


m  i 

■::i|i  i 
'I'   \ 


;!'! 


252 


llISToniCAT,  ('(>TJ,KCTIONS  OI'  LOUISIANA. 


tlio  .-litr}  to  pn.stority ;   which  in;iy,  i 


n  soiiii! 


luoasuro,  oxeuse  the  iiro- 


ni  ii; 


I.  r 


B    '', 


c'oiicihilih!    I'umity  ihi.s  luitinn  hath  ciUKjiivo'l    ii;rainst  the    Frimeh, 
bt'twt'i'ii  whom  tlicrc  have  1m'(  ii  luniu'i-lv  aliudst  cinistaiit  wars,  acciun- 


nitli  various  o 


vi'iits — thf    I'l'i'iiuh  with  their  allit's  cinl 


oavor- 


paui 

iiigto  (  xtirpato  thoiii,  who  have  liithnto  hiavtly  dcfciulcd  thtinsolvcH; 
tho  j'!ii^li,«.h  for  their  furs  supplyiug  tlieiii  witli  aiimuuiitiuu,  aiul 
•luring  tiiuo  of  war  with  the  Freueh  powerfully  as^i^tiug  them.  They 
have  hviii  a  very  useful  harrier,  ami  without  their  help  Ntnv  York, 
uml  prohalily  other  lU'ighltoriug  proviuee.-i,  hail  long  since  been  pcs- 
scs.sed  by  the  French,  having  been  very  slenderly  aiileil  from  l-'nglaiul. 
The  Freneli  in  all  their  writings  concerning  Canada  make  many 
tragical  relations  of  and  exclamations  against  tho  barbarous  cruelties 
of  this  nation  exercised  upon  them,  and  the  Indians  their  allies;  but 
seldom  tell  us  that  the  very  same  things  are  practiced  by  tiiemselves 
and  their  Indians  against  the  Irocois,  and  often  daring  time  of  peace. 
For  when  tho  Irocois  or  Five  Nations,  as  we  call  them,  were  aban- 
doned by  order  of  King  Charles  II.  towards  the  latter  end  of  his  rcigu 
and  during  the  whole  reign  of  King  James,  and  obnoxiou.s  unto  the 
resentments  of  the  French  (tho  Knglish  being  strictly  forbidden 
any  ways  to  assist  them),  they  wore  under  a  necessity  of  mtddng 
a  very  disadvantageous  peace,  which  how  perfidiously  it  was  broken 
may  be  seen  at  large  in  that  faithful  and  judicious  history  of  the 
Baron  la  Ilontan.  And  had  it  not  been  for  the  revolution  in  England, 
the  Irocois  had  been  totally  destroyed  or  subjected  unto  tho  French, 
which,  as  I  hinted  before  in  the  preface,  would  have  been  of  dreadful 
consoffuence  to  divers  of  our  English  colonies  on  the  continent.  'Tis 
true,  the  Irocois  (Iroquois)  have  extirpated  or  subjected  several  nations 
of  Indians  round  about  them,  but  it  hath  been  either  because  they 
were  in  confederacy  with  their  enemies,  destroyed  their  country,  mur- 
dered their  people,  hindered  them  in  their  beaver-hunting  (without 
which  they  could  not  subsist),  or  furnished  their  enemies  with  furs, 
which  occasioned  tho  increasing  the  numbers  of  the  French  from 
France,  and  consequentl}'  threatened  them  with  utter  ruin,  when 
Canada  shall  be  more  populated  from  Europe ;  so  that  certainly  the 
measures  they  take  for  their  own  preservation  and  security  are  more 
innocent  and  excusable  than  those  have  been  by  the  French,  forty 
yoai's  last  past,  exercised  in  ]']uropc,  whose  wars  have,  according  to  a 
modest  calculation,  occasioned  the  death  of  above  two  millions  of  their 
own  country  people,  and  other  Europeans,  and  most  unjustly  invaded 
or  gri(>vou.sly  oppressed  their  neighbors;  desire  of  increasing  their 
wealth,  enlarging  their  territories,  or  advancing  the  glory  of  their 


I 


<    ! 


lOUt 
Ill's, 

nil 

IL'U 

;io 
)rc 
rty 
0  :i 
,cir 
etl 
eir 
eir 


COXK's  (  t,<ill>IA.\A)  (  .\l!(ii,A.\.\.  'J.'i.'j 

^I'l'iit  iiKiimrrli   liiii;:  tlio  clii-f  cnn.-i's,  t1inuj.'Ii  Miiiir  dtlu'  .-Iiriil.T  aii'-l 
L'lisily  ci'iil'ii'i  il  lirctriic's  liavc  sniiictiiiicH  Itccii  allciriil. 

l!iit  lo  irtiirii  nii*i)  till'  Ii'iicnis,  wlmiu  we  call  sulijrct.s  (if  the  iTown 
of  ICii^rlaii'l,  tlicy  niily  ^tyli'  tliciMsi'lvcs  lnTtlirfii,  fii'iiilv,  alllc.-i,  lifin;.' 
a  iicnjiKi  Iiiiilily  ti'iiac-inus  nf  their  lilic.i'ty,  ami  very  iiii])ati(  lit  nf  tlie 
least  ciKToacliiiionts  tIn.ri'oii.  Tlicsi^  live  caiitniis  or  nations  liave  snld. 
given,  and,  in  a  very  fornitil  publie  manner,  made  over  and  cnuvi'yed 
to  the  |]ii;:lisli  divers  lai';,('  emiiitiies  cnuiiiiered  iVoiii  tiie  Indians, 
upnii  tlie  south  side  of  tlie  ^creat  lake<,  as  far  as  the  Me'^(dia''e'ie,  and 
the  n:.hle,  lieautiliil,  fertile  iniiinsiila  sittiatid  hetweeii  the  three  mid- 
dle lakes,  that  of  lliirons  tn  the  \ve>t,  Ontario  to  tin;  ea.-t,  and  Mrii 
to  the  soutii ;  a  country  almo.-t  as  Iar;.'e  ;',s  hliiirland,  witlmut  ^Vaks. 
admiralily  seated  for  traniik,  plearaiit,  hialtlilul  and  fertile  is  any 
part  of  \urth  Aiiu'riea;  and  the  territory  to  the  south  is  of  tl;i'  same 
nature,  an<I  eoniiiies  with  the  borders  ofnur  pr<nince  of  ('ar'dannj 
which  extends  to  all  the  north  side  of  the  (Itilf  of  ."\le.\ieii. 

It  will  he  one  great  conveiiieiiey  of  this  country,  if  ever  it  comes 
to  he  settled,  that  there  is  an  v;\<y  conimunication  therewith  and 
the  South  Sea,  which  lies  lu'twei'ii  America  and  Chin;',  and  that  two 
ways — hy  the  north  branch  of  the  great  \'ell(iw  lliver,  by  tlie  native-' 
called  the  lliver  of  tiie  3Iassorites  (Missouri),  which  hath  a  course 
of  50(1  miles,  navigable  to  its  heads  or  springs,  and  wdiich  procei'ds 
from  a  ridge  of  hills  somewhat  nurth  of  New  Mexico,  passable  by 
horse,  foot,  or  wagon  in  less  than  half  a  day.  On  the  other  side  are 
rivers  which  run  into  a  great  lake,  that  eiiiiities  itself  by  another 
great  navi'jiable  river  into  the  South  Sea.'''  The  same  niiiy  be  said  of 
the  river  Mesclumuay,  up  which  our  people  have  been,  but  not  so  fur 
as  the  ])aron  lo  Ilontan,  who  passeil  on  it  above  .'(OO  niiles  almost 
due  west,  and  declares  it  eomes  from  the  same  ridge  of  hills  above 
mentioned;  and  that  divers  rivers  from  the  other  side  soen  make  a 
largo  river,  wdiich  enters  into  a  vast  lake,  on  wdiich  inhabit  two  or 
three  great  nations,  much  more  populous  and  civilized  than  other 
Indians;  and  out  of  that  lake  a  great  riverdisembiigv.es  into  the  South 
Sea,  wdiich  is  doubtless  the  same  with  that  before  mentioned,  the 
heads  of  the  two  rivers  being  little  distant,  from  each  other. 

About  twelve  or  fourteen  }ears  since,  T  had  imparted  unto  me  a 
journal  tVum  a  gentleman   admirably  well   skilled  in  geography,  who 

•  The  L'jw  is  ;ii;.l  Yi  ll.iw  S'ene  Rivors  liml  t"i;c't!ier  williiii  foiiic  I'lilo;;  e! 
each  (iiInT,  ;i  fiiei  liuwuver  r.ut  proven  !'<  r  e.Kirc  than  a  century  at'ter  ihis  acrou--. 
was  wvittoii. 


fjl 


I      !     I 


i'  ■ 


I 


« 


M      i 


2M 


nisTonirAi,  foM.Kf'TioNs  or  t.oiisiana. 


liii'l  iiiiiilt'  (livers  vdj'a^'cs  fniiii  Kii^Iaud  to  all  our  l'!iiL:li>li  plaiita- 
ti(t!i.s  ill  Aim'i'ica,  ami  vi>itr(l  moMt  part.s  dl'tlu"  (iiilt'of  .Mi'.\ic(i,  wIkto 
hc!  bt'cainc  accmaiiitcil  witluiiu' ('ai>(aiii  Cuxtnii,  a  (aiiKiiis  [nivatrcr, 
wlio  was  towards  tlic  latter  cud  ni'  tlie  rfi^'ii  of  Kin;^'  Cliiirjcs  II.  ciitcr- 
taini'd  in  Ids  niajt'sty's  service.  I?ut  wlictlier  lie  was  disuMi^'ed,  or 
tliat  his  geidus  iiroiiipted  Idin  to  follow  liis  old  trade,  liaviiij^  with  his 
co-partners  fitted  np  a  ship  of  twenty-six  guns,  he  .saileil  to  the  .South 
Hea,  with  a  design  to  take  tlie  sldp  which  comes  annually  from  the 
i^Iunillias,  or  I'hilippine  Islands,  in  the  I'last  Indies,  to  Acapuico,  the 
chief  i)ort  of  Mexico;  which  ship,  as  ho  had  heen  well  informed, 
u.suully  made  that  part  of  the  continent  that  lies  hetwi^en  .Japan  and 
America,  at  u  fannms  port  in  forty-two  de^'rees.  Hut  when  he  came 
to  the  head  of  the  Islands  or  Peninsula  of  (.'alifornia  (it  hciiij;  too 
soon  by  some  months  for  the  putting  in  I'.xecution  his  intended  dcfign), 
romaging  the  coast,  ho  discovered  a  great  river  in  about  forty-four 
degrees  north  latitude,  which  entered  a  great  lake,  near  the  mouth 
whereof  ho  found  a  very  convenient  island,  where  he  staid  two  or  three 
months  to  refit  himself,  happening  to  have  a  man  on  board  who  under- 
stood the  language  of  the  country.  The  natives  finding  he  was 
engaged  in  an  expedition  against  the  Spaniards,  treated  him  very 
kindly,  supplied  hinj  very  cheerfully  with  whatsoever  he  wanted,  and 
he  contracted  great  friendship  with  them,  lie  calls  them  the  nation 
of  Thoya.  The  Spaniards,  as  I  find  in  divers  of  their  expeditions, 
call  at  Thoyago,  sometimes  Tejago.  They  are  often  at  war  with 
the  Spaniards,  who  have  been  always  repulsed  by  them.  They  bring 
thirty  or  forty  thousand  men  in  one  body  into  the  field.  These  and 
two  other  nations  neighboring,  and  not  much  inferior  unto  them,  are 
accounted  the  most  sensible  and  civilized  Indians  in  America. 

When  the  season  came  lit  for  their  expedition,  they  sailed  west  and 
by  south,  and  happeneil  to  stop  upon  some  occasion  at  an  island  called 
Earinda  or  Carinda;  there  were  five  in  all  near  each  other,  like  the 
Canary  Islands,  but  lay  rounder,  and  were  one  with  another  about 
fifty  or  sixty  miles  in  compass.  The  inhabitants  were  not  shy  of 
them,  but  supplied  them  with  provisions,  and  brought  them  gold  to 
barter  for  such  commodities  of  ours  as  they  liked,  and  in  three  or 
four  days  they  purchased  eighty-six  pounds  weight  of  that  metal.  The 
natives  told  them  they  were  sorry  they  had  no  more,  they  taking  care 
to  provide  only  against  a  certain  time  of  the  year,  for  persons  who 
came  from  the  sun-settiug  at  a  particular  season,  and  bartered  divers 
commodities  with  them  for  gold.  These  traders  or  merchants  must 
certainly  bo  inhabitants  of  Japan,  which  I  gather  from  a  large  relation 


,-ith 

ring 

and 

are 

and 
led 
the 

bout 

y  of 

d  to 

'e  or 
The 
care 
who 
vers 
iiust 
tion 


COXK's  (|,(iI1SIA.\A)  ('AU(»LA\A. 


1>.*.5 


in  the  hi."<t()ry  of  that  ishind,  piilili.-hcil  by  th(!  F>ut(h,  and  translated 
into  niir  tnn;,'iie,  and  makes  the  ;-i\th  vnlimie  of  ( )j.'le}i}'s  ('olleetinri.s. 
The}-  therein  declare  that  they  sent  tVuni  Ihitavia  two  sliijjs  (as  they 
prettMidtMl),  to  discovor  u  passa;.'e  t'mni  the  lutrth-oiist  part  of  Japan, 
round  'I'artary  to  Europe;  though  it  is  very  probable  they  had  other 
views.  These  ships  were  separated  a  little  east  of  .Japan  by  a  storm; 
the  Castrilonie  proeeed(Ml,  and  found  the  strait  enterin;^  into  the 
(iulf  of  Tartary  or  desso,  and  searched  the  coast  on  the  west  side 
to  forty-nine  degrees;  the  other  ship,  the  IJlefkins,  having  snfl'ered 
much  by  the  storm,  put  into  the  port  of  Naniboo,  near  the  N.  K.  end 
of  Japan,  not  douljting  they  should  be  kindly  received,  being  in 
league,  and  having  a  free  tradt!  with  that  empire;  but  while  Ihev 
were  relitting,  they  were  unexpectedly  surprised  by  the  .Japanese, 
sent  to  court,  and  very  strictly  examined,  whither  they  hatl  not 
been  at,  or  went  not  to  discover  the  (Jold  Islands  (as  they  called 
them),  to  the  cast,  of  which  traflick  the  en\peror  is  so  jealous  that  it 
is  capital  for  any  to  go  thither  except  by  his  permission,  or  to  declare 
to  others  the  distance  and  situation  thereof;  and  had  not  the  Dutch 
given  uncontrollable  evidence  that  they  had  not  been,  nor  were  they 
going  thither,  but  only  upon  the  foremeutioned  discovery,  they  had 
been  all  executed. 

There  are  upon  the  coast  between  America  and  Japan  divers  very 
largo  and  safe  harbors,  and  a  very  good  climate,  the  coast  stretching 
south-west,  mostly  from  forty   to  degrees  of  north   latitude 

These  soiis  abound  with  fish,  and  the  land  with  fowl  and  venison. 
The  inhabitants  are  sociable  and  hospitable.  I  have  a  draught  and 
journals  of  all  the  coast  from  America,  with  tiiose  of  divers  harbors, 
until  you  are  within  about  one  hundred  leagues  of  the  Strait  of  IJrics, 
which  the  Dutch  discovered  about  sixty  or  seventy  years  since,  and 
which  is  the  entrance  of  the  sea  or  gulf  of  Tartary,  lying  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  leagues  north-east  from  Namboe,  the  most  northerly 
haven  and  promontory  of  Japan.  This  strait,  or  rather  these  straits 
(there  being  two  made  by  a  long  island),  arc  the  inlets  into  a  great 
sea  or  bay,  into  which  disembogues  a  vast  river,  on  the  west  side  of 
it,  between  forty-nine  and  fifty  degrees  of  north  latitude,  navigable 
many  hundred  miles  by  the  biggest  .ships,  and  is  made  by  the  conflux 
of  divers  great  rivers,  some  of  which  come  from  the  south-west,  as 
Chingola,  llilum,  Ola,  Sungoro,  and  their  fountains,  near  the  great 
wall  of  China,  and  run  through  the  dominions  of  the  Eastern  Tartars, 
who  arc  now  masters  of  China.     Other  rivers  from   the  north-west, 


>! 


Ml 


n 


l! 


Ml  !i 


; 

? 

,'    ,' 

1   I;,- 

1; 

H|i 

BiP' 

!   *' 

250 


in.-rOKlCAL  COLLECTIONS  oF  LOLISIANA. 


proceed  fn-iu  tlic  leiTilorie;!  uf  tl;o  (V,:ii-  of  Muscovy,  wlm  Ii;i!li  l;;iilt 
•livers  l;ir-e  and  well  fortilu'd  cities  ou  the  iiKiiu  river  of  Vai!i'i;;r,  ;iiid 
several  of  ils  Lrau.-Iies,  as  -Ne^nn'iin,  \epeliuu,  .\ll<a/,in,  Ar;i-uii,  Nert- 
/.inskov,  &.C. 

This  river  of  Yaiiiour  or  Ainura  li'itli  a  course  from  its  furthest 
fountiiiiis  above  tivelve  hiuidred  iiiiies,  without  any  iuterrujilinu  hy 
eataracts,  so  frequent  in  all  the  other  great  rivers  in  3Iuscovy,  as  the 
Oby,  Jeiiisseg  or  .Jenisca,  iS;c.  ]Jy  this  river  you  may  trade  with  the 
inhahitaiits  of  J(;>.lso  for  furs,  who  have  gre;it  store,  ami  tlmse  very 
rich.  Tlicy  inhabit  all  the  coast  on  both  sides  of  the  mouth  of  the 
river,  and  a  considerable  way  up  it.  You  nitiy  likewise  tnillick  with  the 
Muscovites  for  the  same  commodities,  who  sell  them  tlhire  tbr  a  fourth 
part  of  what  tliey  yield  iu  3Iuscow  or  Archangel;  the.-e  parts  being 
above  four  thousand  miles  abnust  due  east  from  3Iuscow,  tlieir  capital 
city,  a  most  prodigious,  tedious  and  difficult  journey,  as  appears  by 
divers  large  and  accurate  journals,  which  have  been  many  years  pub- 
lished iu  jii'int.  And  by  means  of  the  rivers  which  come  from  the 
«outh-v  st,  you  may  correspond  wiOi  the  Ivistern  Tartars,  Chinese, 
and  tne  great  rich  kingdom  of  Tanguth,  all  now  luiited  under  one 
and  the  same  emperor,  being  very  civilized  nations,  and  kind  to 
strangers.  To  say  nothing  of  the  great  and  rich  peninsida  of  Corea, 
which  is  contiguous  to  one  or  two  branches  of  this  river,  was  once  a 
province  i»f  China,  hath  the  same  manners  and  language,  and  is  now 
tributary  to  the  present  emperor.  This  river  liiid  its  .iranches  are  in 
a  good  clime,  it  m  ver  varying  above  two  or  three  degrees  fr(jm  a  due 
easterly  course.  Three  or  more  ships  nuiy  be  sent  every  year,  who 
may  part  at  the  straits  of  the  Tartarian  gulf  or  sea ;  one  for  Vedzo 
aud  the  river;  another  for  Japan;  aiul  a  third  for  North  China  to  the 
great  city  Tunxo,  the  port  of  iVkin,  the  capital  of  that  kingdo?ii,  from 
which  it  i:-  not  above  one  day's  journey  by  land  or  water.  And  there 
is  not  a  better  commodity,  or  of  which  more  profit  may  bo  made, 
than  of  the  furs,  which  arc  so  easily  procured,  and  so  soon  brought 
into  that  imperial  city,  where,  in  the  court  and  amongst  the  grandees, 
there  is  a  prodigious  consumption  of  them,  and  nn)st  exti'avagant 
prices  given  for  them,  especially  those  of  the  better  sort,  though 
oven  the  meanest  come  to  an  extraordinary  good  market. 

Thus,  after  a  thorough  search  and  discovery  both  by  sea  and  land, 
liave  I  given  the  reader  a  topograi)hieal  description  of  a  countiy,  tlu' 
timely  po,-,-essi(Ui  and  due  improvement  whereof  b}'  the  English  may 
be  more   beueiicial  to  them  than   all  the  other  colonies  they  are  at 


,  (.1 


rca, 
CO  a 
iiov/ 
L'  iu 
luf 
who 
edzo 
the 
roiu 
liore 
ade, 
aglit 

iL'CS, 

iiiigli 

laud, 

tlu' 

paay 

at 


COXE'.S  (LOUISIANA)  CAUOl.ANA. 


'ZOi 


present  possessed  of;  bcjiides  that  they  will  tlur(.'l'y  >('cnre  forowr  all 
the  rest  of  our  plantatious  upon  the  eontinent  of  America,  which  if 
this  country  bo  by  them  neglected,  and  sutTcrcd  to  remain  in  ilif 
hands  of  any  ambitious,  politic  and  powerful  prince  or  potentate,  may 
bo  distressed,  concjuered,  or  utterly  exterminated. 

In  a  new  colony,  the  first  care  is  to  provide  food  for  their  sulisi^t- 
ence.  The  (jreat  J)ukc  of  Kohan,  famous  for  wisdom  and  valor,  wlii> 
hath  written  so  many  celebrated  treatises,  especially  relating  to  mili- 
tary affairs  and  politics,  advances  it  as  a  maxim,  that  he  who  will  be 
a  great  warrior  must,  in  the  first  place,  make  provision  for  the  belly; 
and,  in  the  late  war  with  the  French,  our  seasonalde  and  plentiful 
supplies  of  the  soldiers  hath  not  a  little  ciiutributed  to  our  wonderful 
successes,  and  both  strengthened  and  aiii':iati'd  our  troops  to  jKifunu 
snch  acts  of  valor  as  will  be  celebrated  in  future  ages.  The  Sjianiards 
tell  a  pretty,  and  I  think  instructive  stury;  that  upon  the  discovery 
of  the  immense  riches  contained  in  the  mountain  Totosi,  in  Peru,  twi) 
Spaniards  resorted  thither.  The  one  bought  slaves,  hired  servants, 
overseers,  aud  found  a  rich  vein  of  silver  ore.  Tlie  nther  \hnu\  being 
then  common  in  the  neighborhood)  fed  sheep.  The  mine  master 
wanting  wool  for  the  clothing  oi  his  servants  (that  place  being  much 
colder  than  others  in  the  same  latitude),  and  food  for  his  overseers 
(who  could  not  be  satisfied,  being  Spaniards,  with  the  poor  fare  of  the 
Indians  aud  negroes),  bought  flesh  and  wool  of  the  shepherd;  and, 
after  some  few  years,  the  shepherd  grew  rich  and  the  master-miner 
poor.  If  the  Spaniards  had  further  improved  this  notion,  the  English., 
Dutch,  and  French  had  not  exchanged  so  many  of  their  numufactures 
for  gold  and  silver ;  so  that  they  are  the  richest  and  poorest  nation 
iu  the  southern  part  of  Europe. 

And  even  our  own  nation  hath  not  totally  escaped  this  misfortune ; 
for  how  many  have  I  known  that  carried  competent  estates  to  North 
America,  neglecting  tillage  and  breeding  cattle;  in  a  few  years  their 
servants  have  been  their  equals,  and  son)etimes  superiors :  such  is  flic 
force  of  prudence  and  industry.  IJut  as  tur  our  country  of  Carolana, 
if  persons  who  carry  over  effects  and  servants  be  not  sotlishly  tnojisli, 
or  supinely  negligent,  they  cannot  fail  of  improving  their  own  for- 
tunes, and,  without  injury  to  themselves,  contribute  to  make  others 
ea.sy  and  comparatively  happy. 

I  will  not  say  that  nuisters  and  superintendents  of  any  sort  or  kind 
need  take  nothing  with  them,  but  that  tin  y  will  fin<l  all  things  neces- 
l  convenient  to  their  hands.      Doubtless  common  sense  will 


■ary 


am 


teach  them,  they  ought  to  have  at  least  half  a  year's  provisions  of 

18 


>;    ! 


258 


IIISTOIUrAf,  <'(iI,r,KCTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


H 


fi' 


tliiiijrs  necessary,  until  they  arc  iicquainttMl  with  the  natives,  anJ  have 
ostablislied  a  friendship  and  correspendc^nee  with  thorn.     ]>ut  abund- 


of  trouhlt'  and 


lilt'  anil  expense!  wul  be  saved  ni  phmting  this  country, 
^^•hieli  could  not  be  well  avoided  in  thuse  the  Finjrlish  have  hitherto 
settled  on  the  continent  or  in  their  islands.  For  bre;  d  in  this  country, 
wc  have  a  ;j.'reat  advantaire  at  first  coniinc.  They  may  have  Indian 
corn  of  the  iidiabitants,  who  have  almost  everywhere  two,  and  in  some 
places  three,  crops  in  a  year;  and  1  have  been  very  credibly  informed 
that,  when  the  new  coines  in,  they  cast  away  a  great  part  of  the  old 
to  make  room  in  their  little  granaries.  Besides,  all  along  the  coast, 
and  two  or  three  hundred  miles  up  the  country  from  the  sea,  they 
have  the  root  Maudihoca — whereof  C'assavi  bread  and  flour  is  made — 
whereupon  almost  all  America  between  the  tropica  doth  subsist  (ex- 
cepting what  is  brought  tliem  at  great  expense  from  Europe,  or  our 
northern  plantations),  and  which  many  esteem  as  good  a  nourishment 
as  our  manchef,  and  six  times  cheaper. 

Besides,  this  country  naturally  affords  another  sort  of  excellent 
corn,  which  is  the  most  like  oats  of  any  Kuropean  grain,  but  longer 
und  larger;  and  1  have  been  assured  by  many  very  credible  persons, 
who  often,  out  of  curiosity,  had  divers  ways  prepared  it,  that  it  fur 
exceeds  our  best  oatmeal.  This  is  not  sown  and  cultivated  by  the  In- 
dians, but  grows  spontaneously  in  marshy  places,  in  and  by  the  sides 
of  rivers,  like  reeds  or  rushes.  The  Indians,  when  it  is  ripe,  take 
liandfulls,  and  shake  them  into  their  canoes  ;  what  escapes  them  falling 
into  the  water,  without  any  further  trouble,  produces  the  next  year's 
crop.  Kice  may  be  there  raised  in  as  great  plenty  as  in  Carolina. 
For  fruits,  they  have  not  divers  growing  in  liUropc,  which  were  once 
strangers  to  us,  and  by  art  and  industry  in  some  measure  naturalized; 
but  they  have  otlu;rs  little  if  at  all  infinior ;  such  as  most  excellent 
limes  or  wild  lemons,  and  prunes,  growing  in  the  open  fields,  without 
culture,  which  they  eat  plentifully,  immediately  from  the  tree.«,  and 
keep  dry  for  winter  provision.  ]Many  who  liavc  tasted  both,  unani- 
mously aflirm,  they  never  did  meet  with  either  sort  in  ]*]urope  com- 
parable thereunto :  and  those  dried  will  not  prove  a  contemptible 
commodity,  when  we  contract  friendship  with  the  natives,  who  being 
directed  by  us  how  to  gather  and  order  them,  would  supply  us  with 
jireat  quantities,  not  only  for  own  subsistence  and  delight,  but  even 
for  exportation.  Besides,  the  tunas  a  most  delicious  fruit,  especially 
in  hot  weather,  and  also  not  only  agreeable  to  the  palate,  but  salu- 
brious, and  as  our  F>uropeans  cull  it,  when  in  maturity,  their  cordial 
julep. 


bnig 
rltli 
Ivcn 
ally 
lilu- 
lUal 


('(iXi;'s  (l.dUlslANAj  rAliol.ANA. 


'IT.'.) 


1  imw  (.•uiiie  to  tli;it  tree,  T  iiU'Hii  tlie  vine,  wliicli  :i  !:'iv:il  \x\vt  <>{'  tlic 
world  iiliiKist  idolizes.  T  kmnv  there  havi;  lieeu  ureat  (ll>;iii!vs 
amonL'st  tlie  learned  (and  positively  deteniiint'd  hy  Maheniet  and  tlie 
Mahometans  all  over  the  world),  -wliether  it  had  not  been  better  i'lr 
mankind  it  had  never  existed,  considerinjr  how  mnch  that  noble  juice 
hath  been  abused,  and  liow  often  it  has  been  tlio  canse  of  nund»erh'<s 
calamities,  b'or  my  own  partieular,  I  must  own  it  is  my  opinion, 
that,  next  to  bread,  whieli  is  the  staff  of  lif',  it  is  one  of  the  L'reate-t, 
merely  material  comforts  we  in  these  northern  climates  enjoy;  and 
having  been  long  thereunto  accustomed,  wdieii  transplanted  into  a 
inore  southern  country,  we  sliall  hanker  after  it.  And  if  we  cannot  have 
good  of  our  own  produce",  W(>  sliall  certainly  liave  recourse  to  foreigners, 
and  iiurchase  it  at  any  rate,  and  thendiy  impoveri.-li  our  infant  colnny. 
But  thanks  to  Almighty  Ciod,  who  liath  not  only  .so  long,  so  wonder- 
fully favored  the  I'higlish  nation  in  their  own  island,  but  takes  e;ne 
even  of  them,  who  some  account  th(  ir  outcasts,  though  they  have 
the  true  English  courage,  love  to  their  country,  and  contribute,',  per- 
haps as  much  to  its  wealth  and  welfare  by  their  industry,  as  any  ( ipial 
number  of  tlieir  rank  and  (piality  they  have  left  behind.  But  to  put 
a  period  to  this  digression,  vines  of  divers  sorts  and  kinds,  grow  natu- 
rally in  this  coun-try.  We  have  already  discovered  and  distinguislieil 
five  or  six  sorts  very  different  from  each  otlier;  but  in  such  great 
plenty,  tliat  in  a  thousand  places,  either  upon  the  continent  or  in  tlio 
islands,  espeei  illy  in  or  near  the  great  river,  tliey  make  your  journeys 
shorter  by  entangling  your  legs,  it  being  natural  for  them  to  run 
upon  the  ground,  unless  they  meet  with  trees,  up  which  they  creep, 
loaded  with  clusters  of  grape,  of  .some  sorts,  commonly  half  a  yard, 
somotiraes  two  foot  long.  It  i.s  true  sonu;  of  these  grapes,  for  want 
of  culture,  thouffli  large  as  damsons,  have  creat  stones  and  a  t(ni-Ii 
.»kiu;  y.  they  might  be  easily  meliorated  by  Kuropcan  skill;  though 
as  thi'y  are,  especially  two  or  three  sorts  of  the  smaller  kind,  are  as 
grateful  to  the  palate  as  most  we  have  in  I'iUgland ;  Init  the  very  worst 
duly  managed,  produces  brandy  hardly  inferior  to  any  in  f^uropc ;  so 
that  had  we  vessels  to  distil,  and  skillful  operators,  we  might  soon 
abate  the  ]irice  of  that  liipior  in  Knglaml,  and  our  plantations,  and 
keep  a  sufficient  reserve  for  ourselves. 

And  f-iithcr,  when  we  have  once  obtained  tlu;  skill  of  meliorating 
the  grapes,  we  shall  also  produce  not  only  as  good  wine,  but  also  as  good 
raisins,  as  in  most  countries  of  Europe ;  the  climate  being  admirably 
adapted  thereunto ;    and    thereby  not    only    supply    ourselves    and 


i 


I  ■ 


'  i  I 


\m 


2G0 


HISTORICAL  COIJiECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


Hi  ' 


: !  .:    ! 


ueigliboring  colonics,  but  somewhat  abate  the  cxponr-c  of  our  iiiothor, 
good  Old  Knghind,  from  whom  we  proceed,  and  upon  whom  we  and 
(I  hope  and  believe)  all  our  other  colonies,  will  not  only  acknowledge 
their  sole  dependence,  but  ever  desire,  with  the  uttermost  of  their 
power,  to  manifest,  uihju  all  occasions,  their  love  and  gratitude. 

Jjut  corn  and  drink  are  not  suiHcieut  for  J'Inglishmen,  who  are  used 
to  feed  upon  good  beef,  mutton,  bacon,  veal,  and  pork;  therefore  for 
the  encouragement  of  such  as  shall  hereafter  inhabit  this  province, 
they  will  tind  g(jod  beef,  and  cousenuently  veal,  there  being  a  sort  of 
kine  natural  to  this  country,  which,  though  they  differ  a  little  in  shape 
from  ours  (having  a  bunch  upon  their  shoulders,  whicli  is  delicious 
food)  yet  othcrways  are  not  iu  the  least  inferior  to  our  bulls  and  cows, 
and  they  may  make  them  oxen  when  they  please;  and  by  dry  fodder 
.stall  oxen  like  those  in  Kngland  ;  but  t's  thev  are  wiMiout  art  and  care, 
they  almost  equal  our  grass  cattle.  There  arc  also  sheep  of  the  Spu- 
uifth  breed  iu  good  numbers,  whose  flesh  is  as  goo<l  as  ours,  and  their 
wool  better;  as  also  hogs  very  plentiful,  on  the  sea-coast  especially, 
and  some  within  land,  though  not  .so  numerous,  acorns,  chestnuts,  and 
other  masts  abounding  in  this  country,  render  them  more  grateful 
food  (as  all  who  have  fed  upon  them  affirm)  than  ours  iu  England  ; 
and  tit  for  exportation  for  the  islands. 

Next  to  food  we  arc  to  consider  a  very  material  circumstance,  and 
that  is,  cattle  for  draught,  and  Imrses  for  riding,  which  are  carried 
into  the  plantatious,  whether  on  the  continent,  or  in  the  islands. 
Tliese  are  already  prepared  into  your  hands,  with  no  great  trouble 
and  expense.  For  horses,  they  arc  eonnnonly  used  among  the  In- 
dians <m  the  west  side  of  the  Great  lliver  for  riding  and  burdens,  as 
amongst  us,  though  they  have  not  improved  them  for  draughts,  being 
totally  ignorant  of  coaches,  wains,  carts,  or  ploughs,  unto  all  which  they 
may  soon  jy  care  and  skill  be  adapted.  And  the  price  of  a  good 
horse  will  not  amount  unto  above  live  shillings  of  our  European  com- 
modities at  first  cost,  as  1  am  well  assured  by  traders,  who  have  been 
oliered  u  very  good  one  for  a  very  ordinary  hatchet.  And  as  for  oxen 
for  plough  and  cart  when  tlieir  young  males  are  castrated,  they  will 
be  as  tame  and  as  serviceable  as  our  oxen ;  though  amongst  the  Tar- 
tars, from  whom  these  kine  originally  came,  the  great  bulls  of  almost 
twice  the  strength  and  ])igness  of  our.s,  are  by  them  so  far  tamed  that 
they  employ  them  to  draw  their  houses  oi  huts  put  upon  carts  nrauy 
huudred  miles,  as  they  have  occasion  to  remove  their  habitations, 
which  is  only  for  convenient  pasture,  marching  in  the  winter  to  the 
outh,  in  the  summer  to  the  north.     This  sort  of  cattle  are  not  only 


coxe's  (loutptana)  cauolana. 


2G1 


Ids. 
le 

as 
»S 

iod 


useful  fur  Ainil  and  labor,  but  also  i'nv  tlicir  hair,  or  ratliorwool,  which 
is  very  long,  wry  thick,  and  very  fine  ;  and  1  tliiiik,  as  do  many  otluTs 
who  understand  the  use  of  it,  for  hats,  clnthinp;,  and  divers  other  ne- 
cessaries, M'ith  some  small  suitable  aildition  or  mixtures,  is  jireferalde 
to  common  wool.  Their  skins  may  be  partly  impdrted  to  jMighind, 
and  partly  employed  in  our  own  colony  for  harness,  boots,  shoes,  and 
many  other  uses. 

IJesides,  we  are  near  New  Mexico,  all  which  country  generally 
cmplo}'  for  carriage  mighty  great  and  strong  mules,  produced  liy  As- 
sinegos,  or  male  asses,  many  of  which  there  are  of  al)undantly  greater 
bigness,  strength  and  mettle  than  in  Kurope,  which,  with  tlie  mares 
of  that  country  would  produce  an  excellent  breed,  if  it  be  thought  ad- 
vantageous to  raise  them. 

There  are  several  tracts  of  land  in  this  country  that  would  suit  very 
well  with  camels,'''  many  of  which  are  employed  ])y  the  Spaniards,  es- 
pecially in  Peru  ami  Terra  Firma,  or  the  south  part  of  the  Ciulf  of 
Mexico.  They  have  tiiem  mostly  from  the  Canary  Islands,  and  some 
from  Africa.  They  stand  well  in  America,  are  very  u.seful,  and  a 
very  little  trouble  and  cliarge  will  subsist  tliem. 

The  wild  animals  of  this  country,  besides  the  elk  or  buffalo  ab(iVO 
mentioned,  are  panthers,  bears,  wolves,  ant'  wild  cats,  none  of  which 
are  hurtful  to  mankind;  deer  of  divers  sorts,  beaver,  otter,  fox,  raccoons 
squirrels,  martens,  and  conies  between  ours  and  liarcs  in  great  abund- 
ance ;  as  likewise  a  rat  with  a  bag  under  its  throat,  wherein  it  con- 
veys its  young  when  forced  to  fly.  All  these  are  useful  for  their  furs 
or  skins,  and  some  for  food;  but  I  think  it  not  material  nor  consi>t- 
ent  with  my  designed  brevity  to  enter  into  a  particular  descriptidu  nf 
them  :  No  more  than  of  the  following  bird  or  wild  fowl  found  all  over 
the  country,  sea  shore  and  rivers,  such  as  eagles,  goshawks,  falcons, 
gerfalcons,  and  most  other  birds  of  prey  that  are  in  ]']urope;  great  com- 
panies of  turkeys,  bustards,  pheasants,  partridges,  pigeons,  thrushes, 
blackbirds,  snipes,  cranes,  swans,  geese,  ducks,  teal,  pelicans,  parrots, 
and  many  other  sorts  of  curious  birds  diifering  from  ours. 

For  clothing,  though  wo  may  reasonably  suppose  that  by  our  cor- 
respondence with  our  native  country  we  may  be  supplied  therewith, 
as  also  with  beds,  carpets,  coverlets,  &c.,  j-et  it  would  not  be  amiss,  if 
in   the  infancy  of  this  colony,  the  poorer  sort  were  encouraged  to 


IH 


Hi 


*  A  crrrnvan  of  tlioso  animals  !iar=  ln'on  Iritcly  inipnrlo'!  (1S50)  to  esnljlish  n 
eomnniiiii'aiinii  (;'.cri'is  tin'  deserts)  Ijetwueii  tlio  city  'if  ^"t.  Luiiis  iuid  St.  Fi'nn- 
oiscu,  Calilbniia. 


2i;-2 


TilsTORIf'AL  COLUXTIONS  OF  LOnsFAXA. 


i 


iiiiiiufaeturc  the  Wdcl  of  sIkm'Ji  iiiiil  l<iiio,  iis  also  cdttmi,  to  snpiily 
tiii:ir  iiriri'iit  lu'cost-itit's.  Huts  may  ))i'  made  of  tin;  long  ^-oft  liair  of 
tin:  kiiK^  iiiixoil,  if  need  bo,  witli  a  little  of  the  hair  or  wool  of  heaver, 
h  ith  whieli  are  in  ^nvat  plenty,  and  easily  procured,  and  nothing 
wanting  hnt  a  few  artists  to  nianufaetnre  them  as  in  lOngland. 

1  have  received  information  fronj  divers  persons  who  unanimously 
aflirm,  that  some  of  the  most  civilized  nations  in  this  country,  espe- 
cially of  the  better  '')rt,  are  clothed  with  a  substance  like  good  coarse 
,s  rviceable  linen,  very  white.  Tpon  in(|uiry,  they  found  it  was  made 
with  the  inward  bark  of  trees,  wdiieh  grow  plenlifully  there,  and  is  as 
becoming  as  most  of  the  ordinary  linen  of  Europe;  and  by  the  rela- 
tion of  the  natives  no  less  durable.  Of  the  same  and  (  tlier  barks 
they  make  thread,  cords  and  ropes,  of  divers  lengths  a'.id  magnitudes, 
which  might  be  greatly  improved  by  our  Knglish.  planters. 

Olives  would  certainly  grow  hero  as  well  as  in  New  S)iain,  where 
they  thrive,  especially  in  those  parts  contiguous  to  our  cmuitry,  and 
are  not  inferior,  cither  for  eating  or  making  oil,  to  tho>e  of  Spain  and 
Pi)rtugal;  as  also  almonds,  several  affirming,  particularly,  I.  remember, 
the  famous  Acosta  writes  concerning  the  productions  of  the  West 
Indies,  where  he  long  resided,  that  they  far  exceed  those  of  Spain  or 
any  other  part  of  I'^urope.  ]Jut,  for  political  reasons,  both  they  and 
vines  are  forbidden  to  be  used  for  the  production  of  oil  or  wine. 

Currants  also  would  pi'obably  prosper  in  this  country,  tlic  climate 
being  much  of  the  same  nature  and  latitude  with  the  islands  of  /ante 
and  Cephalonia,  from  whence  we  now  do  generally  bring  them;  and 
the  famous  city  of  Corinth,  fr<im  which  they  derive  their  name,  and 
from  whence  they  were  transplanted  to  the  fore-mentioned  islands; 
the  Latin  name  being  Uiw  Cun'ii//ii(tc!v,  or  grapes  of  Corinth,  which 
we  corruptly  call  currants,  instead  of  Corinths.  These  three  commo- 
dities were  thought  so  needful  that  King  Charles  11.,  with  tlie  advice 
of  his  council,  gave  great  encourageme.'t,  in  his  patent  for  Carolina, 
to  the  proprietors,  jjlantcrs,  or  any  others  who  shuuM  produce  and 
import  them  to  England;  as  also  capers  and  some  other  commodities 
there  mentioned. 

Cotton  grows  wild  in  the  pod  and  in  great  plenty;  may  bo  ma- 
naged and  improved  as  in  our  islands,  and  turn  to  as  great  account; 
and  in  time  perhaps  nianuf;ictured  either  in  the  country  or  in  (Jreat 
llritain,  which  will  render  it  a  cuniuiodity  still  more  valuable.* 


*  The  author  liero  (lisplny;:  a  woiuU'il'iil  snirmiiy  as  to  the  iiiipurtnnoe  of 
I'lis  cciiHin-y  fur  the  ciiltivatiDii  (if  ;i  plant  \v!iiijh  now  malces  KuroiJC  our 
ik'btor,  ami  is  the  irreat  regulator  of  our  excliaii'i'.'s. 


coxk's  (Louisiana)  CAitoLAXA. 


li(i; 


IVnvls  iiru  to  lt(>  fduiiil  in  <sYvnt  iilmiulaiu'L'  in  this  cnuiitry;  {\v 
Inilians  put  sonu!  vahu'  uimii  tluiii,  lnit  unt  su  lauili  as  (Hi  tlio  ciilori'd 
beads  we  lirinij;  tlicin.  On  tin;  wlinlc  c^a.-t  (if  tliis  ]ir(iviiici',  I'nr  two 
huudrcil  leagues,  tiicro  an'  many  vast  IrmIs  of  oysters  wliiidi  lini'tl 
pearls,  as  lias  been  fnuml  in  divrfs  jilaLTs.  l)tit,  wliiili  is  very  i\'- 
niarkablc,  far  fnmi  the  s.'a,  in  t'lvsli  water  rivers  and  lakes,  then'  is  -.i 
sort  of  a  shell  lish,  between  a  inusele  and  a  pcjarl  oyster,  wlu'rein  are 
found  abundance  of  pearls,  and  many  of  an  unusual  ma;.'nitude.  'I'he 
Indians,  when  they  take  the  oysters,  bniil  tliem  over  the  lire  till  tliey 
are  lit  to  eat,  keejiinif  the  lar;:-e  ]>earls  they  find  in  them,  whieli,  by 
the  heat,  are  tarnished  and  lose  their  native  lustre;  but,  when  we 
have  tauii'ht  them  the  right  luetliod,  doubtless  it  woulil  be  a  very 
profitable  trade.  'J'heie  are  two  plaees  we  already  know  within 
land,  in  each  of  which  there  is  a  great  pearl  fisliery.  One  about  one 
hundred  and  twenty  leagues  up  the  Itiver  ]Me.-(  hacebe,  on  tlu;  west 
side,  in  a  lake  made  by  the  river  of  the  Naehes,  about  forty  mill's 
from  its  mouth,  where  they  are  found  in  great  plenty  and  many  very 
laru'e.  The  other  on  the  liiver  Chiaha,  which  runs  into  tlie  Coza  oi 
Cu.ssaw  liiver  (as  our  Knglisli  calls  it),  and  which  comes  from  tin 
north-east,  and,  after  a  course  of  some  hundn'd  miles,  <lisend)oguu,s 
into  the  (lulf  of  3Iexico,  about  one  liunrlred  mih's  to  the  east  of  the 
Maschacebe. 

The  judiciiuis  and  faithful  writer  of  the  famous  expedition  of  Ter- 
dinando  Soto,  who  was  therein  from  the  beginning  unto  the  end, 
acciuaints  iis  that,  v/lu'ii  they  came  to  C'utifacliia,  the  chief  of  that 
country,    finding  they  vahu'd   pearl,  oU'ered   to   load   all   their  horses 


tl 


lerew 


itli,  which  were  at  least  two  hundred.     And,  to  confirm  th 


in  the  beliiif  of  wdiat  they  advanced,  carried  them  unto  two  of  their 
chief  teuiples,  wiiere  they  found  vast  ([Uanlities,  but  took  old}- fourteei; 
bushels  for  a  show  to  the  Havana,  and  other  of  the  Spani.-h  dominions. 


to  encourage  tii. 
ber  thi'ir  hois.'.s 


iphni;- 


tins  colonv,  not   beinLr  \'iillui;f  to  encun 


Hi 


i'li  more 


lieir  Wt' 


Ifare  and  succ 


ess  depending  muc 


upon  their  horsemen — tiie  Indians  being  abundantly  more  afraid  o) 
them  than  the  foot,  whose  guns  being  useless  after  a  short  time,  f'oi 
want  of  powder,  they  (udy  made  use  of  cross-bows.  And  (lareilasso. 
\vho  was  not  with  Soto,  but  writ  oidy  upon  memoirs  he  received  iVom 
divers  wdio  wi're  present,  gives  a  more  full  account  of  tlie  prodigiou- 
(piantity  of  pearls  in  tiiat  country,  ailirming  the  Spaniaids  eidculated 
them  to  amount  unto  a  thousand  busluds.  And  afterwanls,  when  the 
Spaniards  at  ('liiaha  were  gathering  oysters  for  tlieir  f  lod,  they  found 
many  large   pearls,   and  one    particularly   thai  wa,^    prized  at   Ibu! 


-I 


t    ) 


M) 


f 


I'.n 
.1 ' 


!■'  ;  ■-' 


204 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


lunulrcd  ducrits,  not  luiviiig  lost  the  least  of  its  lustre,  being  taken  out 
of  a  raw  "yster.  Anl  tliat  one  Terroii,  ii  Ppiiniard,  had  above  six 
pnuncls  wei;.dit  of  pear!,  very  large,  and  mostly  of  u  beautiful  lustre, 
and  were  valued  at  six  thousand  ducats. 

It  need  not  se(!ni  incredible  that  pearl  .should  be  taken  in  fresh 
water  lakes  and  rivers,  there  being  many  relations  of  un(iuestional)lo 
reputation,  wliieh  declare,  very  good  and  large  pearls  arc  found  in 
divers  parts  of  China,  and  the  countries  to  the  west  and  south-west  of 
their  great  wall  (with  which  quotations  I  will  not  enlarge  this  dis- 
courses), as  will  appear  I  y  reading  tin;  China  Atlas  of  3Iartinius,  3Iar- 
cus  Paulus  \'enetus,  and  other  credible  writers  on  lakes  and  fresh 
water  rivers. 

Cochineal  is  a  couiniodity  of  great  value,  very  necessary  as  the 
world  goes,  and  costs  this  nation  annu:dly  great  sums  of  money,  which 
maj'  be  all  saved,  there  being  in  this  province  suihcient  to  furnish 
Ijoth  us  and  our  neiglibors,  who  are  no  less  fond  of  it  than  ourselves. 
There  have  been  great  iutjuiries,  and  many  disputes,  about  the  original 
of  this  commodity,  Vidiich  is  the  famous  ingredient  for  dyeing  in  grain, 
the  purple  and  scarlet  colors,  generally  esteemed  by  opulent  and  civil- 
ized nations. 

This  noble  ingredient  for  dyeing,  is  produced  by  a  tree  or  shrub 
called  the  Tunal  or  Tuna,  of  which  there  are  divers  sorts;  some  bear- 
ing an  excellent  fruit,  very  pleasant  and  wholesome.  It  is  made  of 
certain  insects  breeding  in  the  fruit  of  this  plant,  when  it  is  well  hus- 
banded, and  are  thereunto  fastened,  covered  with  a  dainty  fine  web, 
which  doth  compass  them  about,  and  when  come  to  maturity  they 
eat  through  it,  fall  off  the  tree,  and  being  carefully  gathered,  dried, 
and  cui'iously  put  u[>,  are  sent  to  Spain,  and  thence  distributed  to 
most  civilized  parts  of  Europe  and  Asia.  Acosta  tells  us,  that  in  the 
fleet  wherein  he  returned  from  ^Mexico,  that  province  only,  shipped 
5077  arobes,  each  whereof  is  "25/.  weight,  and  valued  at  283,750  pieces 
of  eight.  The  cochineal  is  of  two  sorts,  one  growing  wild,  which  they 
call  Silvester.  This,  though  it  gives  a  good  price,  is  far  short  of  that 
which  is  duly  cultivated  in  gardens  and  fields,  much  after  the  manner 
the  English  do  tobacco  in  their  plantations.  Tliis  province,  both  on 
the  cast  and  west  side  of  the  jMeschacebe,  from  the  Gulf  of  3Iexico, 
some  hundred  miles  up  the  country,  abounds  witli  all  sorts  of  Tunals, 
or  Tunas  (as  some  style  them),  usually  found  in  the  province  of 
Mexico,  which  borders  upon  it,  and  is  only  divided  by  an  imaginary 
line,  from  the  degrees  of  thirty  to  thirty -six.     When  this  country  is 


coxe's  (Louisiana)  carolaxa. 


2G5 


per 
Ion 

bo. 

lof 

iry 
is 


settled,  and  wo  set  upon  this  niiiniifiu-tiiir,  tlio  Indians  n\uy  lie  very 
helpful  unto  us,  it  being  easy  lahor,  and  wherein  we  need  only  employ 
their  wnnien  and  young  people,  if  their  men,  who  are  generally  very 
lazy,  decline  it. 

The  i)!ant  of  which  indigo  is  made,  is  very  frenUint  in  most  of  the 
southern  parts  of  this  coimtry,  and  may  possiMy  jj^nluce  better  than 
that  made  in  our  Islands  of  Jamaica,  kv.,  this  province  bciiiL'  in  the 
same  latitude  with  Agra  and  IJyana,  territories  in  the  great  ^logul's 
country,  whose  indigo  is  s'.ccounted  the  best  of  its  kind  in  tlie  Mcrld, 
and  is  double  the  price  of  ours.  It  is  easily  made,  and  the  Indians 
may  be  assisting  to  us  herein,  if  we  think  lit  to  undertake  it.  IJesides, 
if  wc  believe  that  judicious  natural  historian  Hernando,  there  is  in 
Mexico,  and  consequently  hero  (being  much  the  same  climate)  a  plant 
or  little  shrub,  which  produces  an  indigo  abundantly  more  noble,  and 
the  color  more  lively,  than  that  which  is  the  common  indigo.  This 
the  Spaniards  call  azul,  as  being  like  ultramarine.* 

Ambergris  or  gray  amber,  is  often  found  upon  this  coast,  from  the 
Cape  of  Florida  to  Mexico,  which  is  of  great  value.  The  best  (for 
there  are  divers  sorts)  is  of  equal  worth  to  its  weight  in  gold.  This 
is  agreed  upon  by  the  learned,  to  be  a  bitumen  or  naphtha,  which 
comes  from  certain  springs  or  fountains,  that  empty  themselves  into 
the  sea,  and  is  coagulated  by  the  salt  water,  as  suecinum,  CKUimoidy 
called  amber,  from  another  sort  of  bitumen  or  naphtha,  and  in  storms 
cast  upon  the  coast.  The  same  ambergris  is  also  found  iipon  the  cast 
side  of  the  Cape  or  Pouin^;ula  of  Florida,  the  IJahama  Islands,  in  the 
East  Indies,  and  IJrazil,  and  sometimes  great  lumps,  even  upon  the 
coast  of  Cornwall  and  Ireland.  And  among  others,  I  have  nvid  of  a 
piece  weighing  eighty  pounds,  cast  upon  the  coast  of  Cornwall,  in  the 
reign  of  King  Charles  I.,  which  was  bigger,  till  diminished  by  the 
countryman  who  found  it,  by  greasing  his  cart-wheels,  and  boots,  but 
discovered  accidentally  by  an  intelligent  gentleman,  who  ridijig  by 
one  of  his  carts,  and  perceiving  a  very  grateful  smell,  in(juire<l  of  the 
man  whence  it  proceeded;  ho  told  him  he  had  foun*!  a  nasty  grease 
on  the  shore,  which  he  hoped  would  have  saved  him  the  ex{)ense  of 
kitchen  stuff  and  tar  for  carts,  harness,  and  boots,  but  it  Mas  of  so 
poisonous  a  smell,  that  they  were  not  able  to  endure  it.  The  gentle- 
man desiring  to  see  the  remainder,  found  it  what  ho  expected,  pur- 

*  Tlu>  fiiltivniion  of  imli^'o  was  commonccil  in  Loiii.-iann  in  1720.  A.s  ;i  crop 
it  was  tiiic(,'rt;iiii.  liiii  it  was  not  aliaiidout'il  uniil  IT'Jl.  when  it  wms  sii'.'cucilcd 
f'y  tilt?  ni'jre  [^''jnL'r.'U  •jultivaiiun  of  sugar,  cotton,  ami  tubaci^o. 


I. 


;■  I 


'  >\' 


,   I 


l<J 


2t)G 


III.STOUII.AL  (■OLLKfn'IONS  Ol"  LOUISIANA. 


•'liii!-(il  it  at.  a  very  easy  viitc,  jiivscnti'd  it  unto  tlie  fjUfon,  iiml  was 
rc(|iiitfil  ill  jilai'cs  nr  oiiiiilnyiiu'iits  tar  iM'yiiiid  tlu;  vmIiu'  of  it. 

Tliore  i.s  tumid  in  j/roat  (|uantitio.H  iijioii  tlu'  same  coasl,  dii  the 
shore  to  tlie  east  ami  west  of  the  Mesehacebe,  especially  after  h\'Ai 
south  winds,  a  si»rt  of  stone  jiiteh,  by  the  Spaniards  called  copee, 
which  they  likewise  find  in  the  South  Sea,  upon  the  coast  of  Peru. 
They  mix  it  with  jrrease  to  make  it  more  liijuid,  and  use  it  as  pitch 
for  their  ves^-ls,  and  allirm  it  to  be  better  in  hot  r  mntries,  not  bt'ing 
ajit  to  melt  with  the  heat  of  the  sun  or  weather.  And  at  Trinidad,  a 
large  i.-land  over  against  the  great  river  of  ()ron(K|Ue,  there  is  a  moun- 
tain of  the  said  substance,  of  which  Sir  Walter  Kaleigh  gives  au 
account  in  his  expedition,  so  fatal  unto  Inm,  of  the  discovery  of  the 
said  river  J  and  .several  navigators  since  have.'  done  the  same.  Acosta, 
the  famous  author  of  the  natural  history  of  the  West  Indies,  allirms  it 
to  be  generated  of  an  oil,  which  empties  itself,  he  knows  not  how, 
into  several  parts  of  the  ocean,  in  so  great  quantities,  that  the  sailor.s, 
when  at  a  lo.-s,  know  where  they  arc  by  its  iioating  on  the  sea,  or  the 
smell  tliereof,  which,  ho  .say.s,  they  scented  at  a  considerable  distance. 
The  ]']nglish  sent  to  di.scover  the  lliver  31eschacebe,  aflirni  the  same, 
and  that  they  found  it  in  two  places,  which  1  have  well  marked. 
Moreover,  that  the  se;i  was  covered  with  an  oil  or  slime,  as  they  style 
it,  wdiich  had  a  very  strong  smell  for  many  leagues  together.  I 
suppose  they  had  nuicli  tlie  same  conceptioiKs  with  the  countryman 
before  mentioned,  and  therefore  their  curiosity  did  not  prompt  them  to 
take  it  up  and  examine  its  qualities ;  though  probably  it  might  be 
of  the  same  nature  and  use  with  that  of  divers  wells  in  the  province 
of  Adie'bigian  in  Persia,  near  the  Caspian  Sea,  whence  they  fetch  it 
many  hundred  miles  on  camels,  being  used  to  burn  it  in  lamjis  instead 
of  oil,  it  emitting  a  most  grateful  and  wholesome  odor.  1  might 
add  spermaceti  whales,  out  of  wliicli  that  substance  is  extracted,  are 
sometimes  killed  by  the  natives,  and  sometimes  by  storms,  as  it  Avere, 
shipwrecked  on  the  shore;  but  eitlicr  of  these  seldom  happening,  there 
can  be  no  great  dependence  ov  expectation  from  them. 

Salt  is  of  great  use,  especially  unto  bairopeans,  without  which  they 
cannot  well  subsist,  being  accustomed  thereunto  from  their  infancy, 
and  without  which  food  has  no  relish.  ]5esides,  it  is  supposeil  that  it 
prevents  putrefaction  and  innumerable  di.soa.ses;  and  in  foreign  coun- 
tries where  it  hath  been  wanting  they  have  greatly  sufl'ered.  It  is 
moreover  necessary  to  preserve  iisli  and  flesh,  wdiich  without  it  cannot 
be  long  kept  sweet.     In  this  country  it  may  be  easily  and  aliunduutly 


i 

I 


oixr.'s  (r.oursiANA")  r.\ito(,.v\A. 


2(u 


it 
re 


I 


Ipriiciirril.'-  ^\'(J  kimw  (livers  iilacos,  itii  l^ntli  >i(lis  nf  flic  livcr,  wlicp 
there  iiiv  many  si)riii;:'.s  ami  lakes,  pruilueiiig  plentifully  excellent 
salt;  auil  also  (uu;  mine  (if  Kick-salt,  almost  clear  as  crystal,  and 
probalily  there  may  he  many  nidre  nf  the  same.  J5y  these,  we  may 
not  only  sujuily  ourselves  with  what  is  necessary  for  cur  onlinary 
daily  fmul,  during  the  winter  or  other  seasons,  hut  al<o  furnl.di  our 
(I  ma}  call  then  llei^■hhor)  plantations  in  tlu!  islands  (we  not  hcing 
very  remote  from  them)  with  li.-h,  llesh,  and  salt;  when  hy  reason 
of  war,  or  other  sinister  accidents,  they  cannot  receive  due  and  ex- 
pected recruits  from  Kngland  or  el>ewhere. 

Silk  is  a  commodity  of  great  u.-e  in  Kngland  [\'V  many  manufactures, 
it  ln'ing  imported  to  us  fmni  Kranee,  Italy,  Sii  ily,  Turkey,  and  the 
Kast  Indies:  and  there  is  no  foreign  commodity  which  exhausts  nmre 
of  our  treasure.  I  am  not  so  vain  as  to  promise  this  enuntry  can 
furnish  (ireat  15ritain  with  so  nnudi  silk  as  is  therein  mantifactiired, 
which  wiiuld  amount  to  ahove  half  a  niilli(m  or  a  million  sterling 
annually;  but  if  this  iiroviuce  is  ever  settled  (it  ahnunding  in  most 
parts  with  forests  of  muUu.'rry  trees,  hoth  white  and  red),  and  we  keep 
a  good  correspondence  with  the  natives,  which  is  both  our  duty  and 
interoi-  certainly  a  considerable  quantity  of  silk  may  b(>  here  pro- 
duced.t  It  hath  been  already  experimented,  in  South  Carolina,  by 
Sir  Nathaniel  Johnston  and  others,  which  would  have  returned  to 
great  account,  liut  that  they  wanti'd  hands,  hdmrcrs  being  not  to  be 
hired  but  at  a  vast  charge.  Vet  if  the  natives  or  negroes  were  em- 
ployed, who  delight  in  such  easy  light  labors,  wc  could  have  that 
done  for  less  tlian  one  shilling,  which  costs  them  more  than  six.  Now 
T  appeal  to  all  good  Knglishmen,  if  we  can  raise  only  a  tenth  part 
of  the  silk  expended  in  (ireat  15ritain,  &c.,  aJid  perhaps  half  an  ago 
bonce  the  lifth,  whether  it  would  not  be  very  beneficial  to  our  native 
country,  and  a  iittle  check  upon  others,  with  whom  we  deal  in  that 
commodity,  by  letting  them  know,  if  they  are  unreasonabh"  ami  exor- 
bitant in  their  demands,  that  we  riiay  in  a  short  time  >upply  ourselves, 
in  a  great  measure,  from  our  own  plantations?  I  am  not  ignorant 
there  are  several  sorts  of  silks,  proper  for  divers  distinct  uses,  as  of 
China,  IJengal,  and  other  parts  of  the  East  Indies,  Persia,  'J'urkey, 
Naples,  and   Sicily;  for   what  manufactures  ours  is  most  }iroper,  I 


1 ,1 


!  !■ 


IS 

It 


*   Oil  tlio  head  waters  (jf  the  Arkaii>a.i  ami  Red  Rivers. 

•j-  'J'liere  is  no  clioiale  in  Uie  wurld  liiwre  l'avoraI)le  fur  tlu^  cultivaiiijii  of 
silk  than  Louisiana.  And  the  time  is  last  ;ijipro;iclunt;  v.lieii  it  \\-\ll  Ijc  fii'.'  cf 
the  stniiii-'s  ol'tlie  country. 


^^.'*^' 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


12.8 


■  2.2 


i 
I 


2.0 


11.25  i  1.4 


III 


1.6 


V] 


V. 


f 


/ 


'/ 


/^^ 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


v 


^v 


%. 


•\ 


:\ 


\ 


-^X 


^ 


-^V^ 

.<<^:^ 


c.\ 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


■4^ 


268 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


know  not  ;  but  it  liath  given  a  good  price,  and  experience  may  tmch 
us  to  rais"  for  more  uses  than  one.  I  would  advise  my  cnuntiynu'n 
when  tlicy  set  up  this  manufacture  to  imitate  the  Chinese,  wlm  sow 
the  mullierry  seeds  as  \vc  do  pot-lierhs,  and  to  mow  those  of  one  year's 
growth  for  the  young  silkworms,  the  Iraves  l^'ing  short  and  tender, 
fit  food  for  them  when  fresh  hatched  ;  and  the  second  for  them  wliun 
in  their  infancy,  as  1  may  deservedly  style  it.  When  grown  strong, 
they  may  lie  supjilicd  with  leaves  from  the  trees;  which  nu'tliocl 
secures  them  from  the  diseases,  whereunto  they  are  obnoxious,  wlien 
fed  from  f!ie  lnvrinning  with  great  rank  leaves,  saves  much  trouble, 
and  lessens  the  number  of  hands  to  attend  them,  which  is  the  greatest 
expense. 

Hemp  and  flax  are  not  only  materials  for  divers  manufactures  in 
England,  but  exceedingly  useful,  and  indeed  almost  necessary  in  a 
new  colony,  to  supply  them  with  coarse  linens  of  divers  kinds, 
whereof,  if  we  made  much  and  finiT,  it  would  be  no  injury  to  our 
mother  iMighmd,  who  hath  most  from  foreign  parts  ;  as  also  cordage, 
threail,  twine  for  nets,  and  other  uses.  The  plants  wdiich  produce 
hemp  and  flax  are  very  common  in  this  country,  and  abundantly  suf- 
ficient to  supply  n(tt  only  the  necessities  thereof,  but  likewi.se  of  the 
whole  l!ritish  nation.  Besides,  we  have  a  grass,  as  they  call  it,  silk 
grass,  which  makes  very  pretty  stuli's,  such  as  come  from  the  l']ast  In- 
dies, which  they  call  Ilerba  stuffs,  w'hereof  a  gariticnt  was  made  for 
Queen  Klizabeth,  whose  ingredient  came  from  f^ir  "Walter  Ualeigh's 
colony,  by  him  called  Virginia,  now  North  Carolina,  a  part  of  this 
province,  which,  to  encourage  colonies  and  plantations,  she  was  pleased 
to  wear  for  divers  weeks. 

This  country  aifords  excellent  timber  for  building  ships,  as  oak,  fir, 
cedar,  spruce,  and  divers  other  sorts ;  and,  as  I  said  before,  flax  and 
hemp  for  cordage  and  sails,  as  likewise  iron  f(jr  nails  and  anchors. 
But  without  tar,  jMtch,  and  rosin,  a  ship  can  never  be  well  ctpiipped; 
wherefore  there  are  divers  places  in  this  country*  near  the  sea  and 
great  rivers,  which  were  otherwise  useless,  being  the  most  sandy  bar- 
ren parts  of  the  country,  wherein  that  tree  grows  which  produces  all 
those  matm-ials  for  naval  architecture;  the  same  tree  likewise  pro- 
duces tur[ientlne,  which  is  no  contemptible  commodity.  This  tree 
being  pierced,  and  a  vessel  conveniently  fasteneil  unto  or  placed  under 
the  a}ie'rture,  the  turpentine  distils  plentifully  into  it.  If  cut,  ami  a 
hole  made   under  the  tree  in  the  sand  {fov  in  that  soil  it  generally 

•  Lower  Louisiana  !■•  colebratcil  for  its  fjrpsts  of  live  calc  and  I'iiie  troes. 


coxk's  (r/)i:i>iAN'A)  cakolana. 


2i;a 


groWM,  the  turpc'iitinf,  liy  flic  iiiliuencc  of  the  air  ami  mi:;,  without 
!Hiy  further  trouliU',  heconios  <,'noil  ro.-<iu.  Pitch  and  tar  are  iiiado  by 
cutting  tlio  dry  trees  into  .scantliuirs,  ami  taking  the  knot s  of  old  trce:^ 
fallen ,  and  tlie  rest  of  the  wood  rotted,  barning,  a.s  you  here  make 
charcoal,  covering  with  turf,  and  leaving  orifices  for  as  much  air  as 
will  keep  the  fire  from  extinguishing.  The  inoisture,  partly  aijueous, 
partly  bifuininou>,  run.'*  by  a  gttntle  descent  into  a  pit ;  what  .swims 
is  tar,  which,  inflamed  to  a  certain  degree  and  extingui;shed,  is  pitch. 

I  suppose  it  will  not  seem  a  grievance  for  us  to  build  shijis  in  thi.s 
country  to  bring  home  our  native  commoditie.-i,  when  it  is  allowed  in 
other  plantatiun.s,  and  supposed  to  save  us  a  vast  expen.se  of  board.s, 
masts,  yards,  ^c,  which  were  formerly  brought  us  frnni  Norway  and 
Sweden,  whjro  it  is  well  known  that  three  parts  in  four  are  payeil  for 
in  re.uly  money,  r.iid  not  a  fourth  in  our  own  native  commodities  or 
manufactures.  Besides  the  pitch,  tar,  ro.'^in,  and  turpentine,  the  pro- 
duce of  the  trees  before  mentioned,  the  ashes  which  remain,  with  a 
very  small  accession,  and  little  trouble,  will  make  pota.-li,  no  con- 
temptible commodity,  and  which  costs  England  every  year  to  foreign 
part.>  (as  I  have  b-^en  informed  by  competent  judges)  above  fifty  thou- 
sand pounds.  ]}ut  1  will  not  insist  further  hereon,  or  manifot  what 
great  f(uantities  hereof  may  easily  be  made,  and  how  much  stronger 
than  most  of  that  we  import  from  llussia,  Livonia,  Courland,  I'ru.ssia, 
Sweden,  Norway,  and  other  countries,  we  having  so  many  other  valua- 
ble con'uodities  to  employ  our  time  and  labor  about. 

The  uiention  of  potash,  so  much  u.sed  by  soap-boilers  and  dyers, 
Ijrings  to  mind  several  materials  for  dyeing.  This  country  atl'ords  log- 
wood, otherwise  called  Campeachy  wood,  and  many  other  dyeing  woods, 
fustic,  i.*^c.,  which,  divers  who  tried  them,  afljrm  are  not  iniVridr  to 
those  growing  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  gulf,  in  the  Spanish  domin- 
ions, whence  we  have  hitherto  received  them,  with  much  charge, 
hazard,  and  trouble.  There  are  besides  the  woods  in  this  country, 
divers  shrubs  and  plants,  whose  roofs,  even  as  used  by  the  Indians, 
dye  the  finest  and  most  durable  colors,  lilack,  yellow,  blue,  and  espe- 
cially red;  which  if  planted  and  cultivated,  as  matlier  wood  and  .saf- 
fron amongst  us,  might  probably  be  beneficial  unto  the  undertakers. 

Some  persons  are  very  in(|uisitive  whether  this  country  ]>roducc3 
gems.  1  pretend  not  to  the  knowdedge  of  diamonds,  ruljies  and  ba- 
lasses,  sapphires,  emeralds  or  chryscdites;  all  that  have  come  to  my 
knowdedge  are  amethysts,  of  which  there  are  very  fine  and  large,  and 
to  the  west,  turkoises,  thought  to  be  as  largo  and  good  as  any  in  the 


270 


HISTORICAL  tOI,LECTI»>NS  uF  I.OLISIAXA. 


; 


1^ 


\n 


known  wurM  ;  and  por^sibly  upon  iiKjuiry  and  diligent  soaivl:,  i^tlicrs 
ma}'  1)0  fdund. 

AVc  liavo  an  account  of  lapis  lazuli,  which  is  an  indication,  as 
my  masters  generally  atlirni,  that  gold  is  not  far  off.  I  uvwv  did  sec 
or  hear  of  any  lapis  lazuli  extraordinarily  good,  hut  had  visihle  streaks 
or  veins  of  pure  gold.  IJut  though  it  is  not  ordinarily  reckoned 
amongst  precious  stones,  yet,  if  good  in  its  kind,  it  is  sold  for  its 
%\eightin  gold,  to  make  that  glorious  azure  called  ultramarine,  with- 
out which  no  marvelous  and  durable  painting  can  be  made.  And 
3Ionsieur  Turnefort,  in  his  voyage  to  the  J.evant,  observes  that  be- 
sides that  lazuli  is  found  in  gold  mines,  there  seems  to  be  in  this  stone 
some  threads  of  gold  as  it  were  still  uncorrupted. 

I  had  almost  forgotten  to  communicate  two  commodities,  one  for  the 
health,  the  other  for  the  defence  of  our  bodies.  The  former  is  a 
shrub  called  Cassine,  much  used  and  celebrated  by  the  natives,  the 
leaves  whereof  dried  will  keep  very  long,  of  which  several  people 
have  had  many  years'  experience.  The  Indians  drink  plentifully 
thereof  (as  we  do  tea  in  Europe,  and  the  Chinese,  from  whom  it  is 
exported),  more  especially  when  they  undertake  long  and  daniierous 
expeditions  against  their  enemies,  aflirming  it  takes  awa}'  hunger, 
thirst,  weariness,  and  that  tormenting  p;ission,  fear,  for  twenty-four 
hours.  And  none  amongst  them  are  allowed  to  drink  it  but  those 
who  have  well  deserved  by  their  military  achievements,  or  otherwise 
obtained  the  favor  of  their  petty  roytelets. 

The  latter  is  saltpetre,  which  may  probably  bo  here  procured  cheap 
and  plentifully,  there  being  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year  most  pro- 
digious flights  of  pigeons,  I  have  been  assured  by  some  who  have 
seen  them,  above  a  league  long,  and  half  as  broad.  Tliese  come, 
many  flocks  successively,  much  the  same  course,  roost  upon  trees  in 
such  number  that  they  often  break  the  boughs  and  leave  i)roiligious 
heaps  of  dung  behind  them;  from  which,  with  good  management  and 
very  little  expense,  great  quantities  of  the  best  saltpetre  may  be  ex- 
tracted. 

Having  given  an  account  of  the  most  valuable  animals  and  vege- 
tables this  country  produces,  for  food  and  other  uses,  as  well  as  ma- 
terials for  trade  and  manufacture,  some  who  have  heard  or  read  of  the 
immense  riches  in  gold  and  silver  that  are  annually  exported  from 
Peru,  3Iexico,  and  other  territories  of  the  Spaniards  in  America  to 
Spain,  and  of  the  incredible  quantities  of  gold  that  have  been  im- 
ported from    JJrazil  into  Portugal  for  above  thirty  years  past  (the 


COXk's  (l.oLlSfAXA)  CAU(»f,ANA. 


171 


liciu'fit  (if  wliiili  ;ill  tlio  world  knows  wc  liave  .>ili!uv(I  in  ■,  will  In- 
reaily  to  innniro  wlictlu'r  tlio  liko  mines  exist  in  this  fipimtry  i* 
WliiTi'iiiito  it  iniiy  lie  answoivil,  were  there  no  sueh  iniiics,  yi't  wliere 
there  is  so  LTi'i'il,  rich,  fertile  land,  so  pure  and  he'dtlit'ul  an  air  and 
climate,  sucli  an  al)un(lanc(>  of  all  things  for  food  and  rainicut,  valii- 
aliU'  mntijrials  for  domestic  and  foreign  trade,  these  advantages  alone, 
if  industriously  improved,  and  prudently  maiiageil,  will  in  the  event 
liring  in  gold  and  silver,  hy  the  btdanee  of  trade,  as  in  the;  case  of 
England  and  Holland;  who,  without  mines  of  gold  or  silver,  are 
perhaps  the  richest  nations,  for  the  (piantity  of  land  they  possess,  and 
number  of  inhabitants,  in  the  whole  commercial  world.  And  it  is 
well  known,  that  we,  and  some  other  industrious  Kuropeans  receive, 
in  exchange  for  our  commodities,  the  greatest  part  of  the  wealth  which 
comes  ill  bullion  from  the  West  Indies,  cither  to  Spain  or  IVu'tugal. 
]5ut  not  to  discourage  any  whose  genius  inclines  them  to  the  discovery 
and  working  of  mines,  I  will  add,  who  knows  but  wo  may  have  here 
as  rich  as  any  in  the  known  world'/  Who  hath  searched  J*  as  Tacitus 
said  of  ticriiiany  in  the  height  of  the  ]\oman  empire.  I  mean  the 
reign  of  the  great  Trajan,  sixteen  hundred  years  since.  Vet  after- 
wards there  were  found  gold,  silver,  lead,  tin,  copper,  <|uicksilver, 
.spelter,  antimony,  vitriol,  the  best  in  the  world,  blue,  green,  and 
white ;  besides  many  other  mineral  productions,  which  !ire  now 
wrought  to  the  great  advantage  of  divers  sovereign  princes  and  their 
.subjects. 

]}ut  to  make  a  more  particular  reply  to  .such  suggestions,  they 
may  be  assured  that  copper  is  in  abundance,  and  .so  fine  that  it  is 
found  in  plates,  bits,  and  pieces  very  pure  without  melting,  of  which 
considerable  quantities  have  been  gathered  on  the  surface  of  the  earth. 
And  tiiey  who  have  tried  some  of  the  ore,  affirm  by  common  methods 
it  gives  above  forty  per  cent.  The  famous  Alonzo  Uarba,  who  hath 
given  iin  admirable  account  of  the  mines*  the  Spaniards  li;ive  disco- 
vered in  America,  and  the  ways  of  working  them,  assures  us  that  be- 
sides the  mines  abounding  in  that  metal  near  the  surface  of  the  earth, 
thoy  found,  digging  deeper,  that  they  proved  the  richest  silver  mines 
they  have  hitherto  discovered.  And  all  agree,  the  gold  extracted  out 
of  copper  is  finer,  of  a  higher  tincture,  or  more  carats,  than  that  ex- 
tracted from  silver  or  any  other  metal,  and  that  without  the  tedious 
process  of  burning  several  times  before  melting,  employed  constantly, 


i 


III 


>i 


*  Silver,  copper,  aiut  lead  mines  alwuml   in  Tex;)-',  LoLii-i;in;i.  ninl    Mi 
gold  and  (iiiick^-ilver  in  Calilurnia. 


272 


inSTOniCAIi  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


[1  :_ 


in  order  to  the  oxtriieting  copper,  by  Pwci.los  and  otluT  Km-opean 
nations. 

Lead  is  there  in  groat  quantities.  What  has  already  h.rn  disco- 
verc<I  is  more  tlian  sufficient  for  common  use,  and  the  ore  afi'ords  sixty 
per  cent. 

I  need  not  perliaps  mention  coal,  the  country  so  niucdi  .I'mnnding 
in  wood.  ]>ut  because  in  some  cases  that  may  be  more  n-i  ful  ami 
proper  than  wood,  I  will  add  that  in  many  places  there  an  I.iiuwn  to 
be  n)ines  of  pit  coal,  like  that  we  have  from  Scotland,  Wales,  and  somo 
of  our  inland  countries  in  Kngland. 

Iron  ore  is  in  abundance  of  ydaces  near  the  surface  of  the  earth; 
and  some  parts  produce  iron  little  inferior  to  steel  in  go.;: hi  'ss,  and 
useful  in  many  cases  wherein  steel  is  commonly  eiiiploye'I,  as  divers 
attest  who  have  made  trials  thereof. 

This  country  affords  another  profitable  commodity  or  miip  r;i1,  which 
is  quicksilver.  We  have  knowledge  of  two  mines,  one  o;i  !he  west, 
the  other  on  the  east  of  the  (!reat  River,  and  doubtless  Tiiaiiy  moro 
might  be  found  if  inquired  after.  The  natives  make  no  dther  use 
thereof  than  to  paint  their  faces  and  bodies  therewith  in  titu'  of  war, 
and  great  festivals.  This  wc  call  quicksilver  is  the  mother  of  ijuick- 
silver,  or  the  ndneral  out  of  which  it  is  extracted,  and  is  a  ruck  of  a 
scarlet  or  purple  color;  which  being  broke  and  distilled  m''  earthen 
pots,  the  necks  whereof  are  put  into  others  almost  full  of  v.  iter,  the 
latter  for  the  greater  part  of  each  of  them  in  the  ground,  t!ien  are 
placed  in  rows,  almost  contiguous,  covered  with  spray  wi""I,  which 
burning  drives  the  quicksilver  by  descent  out  of  the  rainoril  into  the 
water.  Three  or  four  men  will  tend  some  thousands  of  tl  ese  pots. 
The  great  trouble  is  in  digging;  all  the  expense  not  amounting  unto 
a  tenth  part  of  the  value  of  the  produce. 

And  it  is  generally  observed  by  all  who  write  well  on  mines,  metals, 
and  minerals,  that  though  silver  be  often  found  where  in. ;«  is  no 
cinnabar  of  quicksilver  in  its  neighborhood,  yet  cinnaljiir  U  rarely 
found  but  silver  mines  arc  near.  This  cinnabar  or  vermilion,  though 
a  good  commodity  in  itself  in  Europe  and  among  the  savage«i,  for  some 
picked  chosen  pieces,  is  chiefly  valuable  for  the  (quicksilver  it  j'l'tjduces, 
especially  if  we  ever  obtain  a  free  trade  with  the  Spaniards,  and  will 
be  beyond  all  exception  for  our  and  their  mutual  benefit;  for  most 
of  the  silver  ore  in  America,  mixed  with  quicksilver,  produces  almost 
double  the  (juautity  of  metal  it  would  do  only  by  melting;  so  that 
the  Spaniards  have  annually  six  or  eight  thousand  quintals  or  hun- 


COXE's  (LOUISIANA)  CAROLANA. 


278 


Jrcd 


.'ht,  I 


igh 


ost 


I 


Wci^Tlit,  brouf^lit  uiitd  thoin  from  the  liottum  of  the  Adriatic  (lulf 
out  of  thi'  tcrriforioH  of  the  Kniporor,  lunl  tlio  ^'(•!u■tiilns,  viz:  from 
Istriii,  fStjria,  Carintliia,  Carniola,  Friuli,  and  Dalmatia.  We  can  sell 
it  tlicm,  and  deliver  it  for  half  what  that  costs  which  comes  fmm  Kii- 
rope,  they  being  within  six  or  eight  days'  sail  of  the  place  where  it  is 
produced.  And  fur  Mexico  we  can  deliver  it  for  the  mines  in  New 
]iiscay,  Jkc,  in  the  River  of  I'alms  or  Hio  ]{ravo,  otherwise  called  the 
lliver  (if  Kscondido:  as  also  hy  the  River  of  the  lliiumas(l{ed  liiver). 
which  enters  the  Meschaceho,  one  hundred  leagues  from  its  mnuth, 
on  the  west  side,  after  a  course  of  above  five  hundred  miles  It  is  a 
very  large  deep  river,  navigable  at  least  three  hundred  miles  by  ships; 
afterwards  unto  its  heads  by  barques  and  flat  bottomed  boats,  having 
no  falls.  It  proceeds  from  that  narrow  ridge  of  low  mountains  which 
divides  this  country  and  the  Province  of  ^Mexico.  The  hills  may  be 
passed  not  only  by  men  and  horses  but  also  by  wagons,  in  less  than 
half  a  day.  On  the  other  side  are  small  navigable  rivers,  which  after 
a  short  course  fif  thirty  or  forty  miles,  empty  themselvi'S  into  tiir 
abovesaid  Rio  Rravo,  which  comes  from  the  most  northerly  part  of 
New  Mexico,  in  thirty-eight  degrees  of  latitude,  ami  enters  the  sea  at 
the  N.  W .  end  of  the  (julf  of  Mexico,  in  twenty-.seven  degrees  of 
latitude. 

There  is  also  another  easy  passage,  to  the  northern  part  of  New 
Mexico,  by  the  Yellow  River,  which  about  sixty  miles  above  its  mouth, 
is  divided  into  two  great  branches;  or  rather  those  two  branches  form 
that  great  river,  which  is  no  less  than  the  Mi'schacebe,  where  they 
are  united.  The  north  branch  proceeds  from  the  north-west,  and  is 
called  the  River  of  the  Ma.ssorites  (Missouri),  from  a  great  nation  who 
live  thereon.  The  other,  which  comes  from  the  west  and  by  .south, 
is  named  the  River  of  the  Ozages,  a  populous  nation  of  that  namu 
inhabiting  on  its  banks;  and  their  heads  proceed  from  the  aforesaid 
hills,  which  part  the  Province  of  New  Mexico  from  Carolana,  am! 
are  easily  passable ;  as  are  those  forementioncd  of  the  River  of  tin 
Iloumas,  which  may  be  plainly  discerned  by  the  map  or  chart  here- 
unto aiuiexed. 

But  all  this  is  insignificant  to  our  Plutonists,  whom  nothing  will 
satisfy  besides  gold  and  silver  ;  I  will  therefore  here  declare  all  ! 
know,  or  have  received  from  credible  persons,  and  will  not  add  :i 
tittle.*     I  am  well  informed  of  a  place,  from  whence  the  Indians  ha\  e 

•  Tlie  o.\rly  French  explorers  sent  lo  Loui^iiina  were  nnu'ng  the  lirst  to  write 
on  the  mineral  regions  of  this  province  ami  Lake  Sujierior. 

19 


i 


I 


I- 


'.   ' 


274 


riTSTORlCAL  r(ir,LKCTfONS  OF  LOUtsrA.VA. 


;:  % 


1-  ^ 


hrnnrrlit  a    notal   (nnt  well   inilcod  rt'fiiiodj,   and  tliat  divcr.-^   tinicH, 
wliicli,  purilicd,  prodiurd  two  piirts  silver.      And  I  have  an  aecDunt 
fVdin  ajiiitlicr,  wlio  was  witli  the  Indians,  ami  had  from  fhoni  inform 
massoH  of  HVich  like  .silver,  and  very  tino  pale  copper,  tlioujih  above 
two  hundred  miles  froni  the  country  where  the  forementioned  was 
found.     1  have  hy  nie  letters  from  New  Jersey,  written  many  years 
since  by  a  person  very  well  .skilled  in  the  refining  of  metals,  sijrnify- 
injr,  that  divers  years  .sueeessively,  a  fellow   who  was  there  of  little 
esteem,  took   a  fancy  to  ramble  with   the  Indians  beyond  the  hills 
which  .separate  that  colony  and  New  York  from  this   country;  he 
always  brouglit  home  with  him  a  h\<i,  as  heavy  as  he  could  well  carry,  of 
dust,  or  rather  small  particles  of  divers  sorts  of  metals,  very  ponderous. 
When  melted,  it  appeared  a  mixture  of  metals,  unto  which  tiny  could 
assign  no  certain  denomination;  but  perceived  by  many  trials  that  it 
contained  lead,  copper,  and  when  refined,  abtjve  a  third  part  silver  and 
gold ;  for  though  the  gold  was  the  least  in  «|uantity,  yet  it  was  con- 
siderable  in  value ;  which  is  easy  di.seovered  by  any  tolerable  artist 
of  a  refiner,  who  knows  how  to  separate  gold  and  silver,  and  what 
proportion  the  m.iss  contains  of  each.     There  were  great  pains  taken 
to  bring  this  fellow  to  discover  where  he  had  this,  I  may  call,  treasure, 
it  serving  him  to  drink  and  .sot  till  he  went  on  another  expedition; 
but  neither  promises  nor  importunities  would   prevail.     Some  made 
him  drunk,  yet  he  still  kept  his  secret.     All  they  could  ever  fish  out 
of  him  was,  that  about  three  hundred  leagues  south-west  of  Jersey, 
at  a  certain  season  of  the  year,  there  fell  great  torrents  of  water  from 
some  njountains — I  suppose  from  rains — which  being  passed  over,  the 
Indians  washed  the  sand  or  earth  some  distance  below  the  falls,  and 
in  the  bottom  reinained  this  medley  of  metals.     "Which  brings  to 
mind   what   happened  lately  in  JJrazil.     Several   Portuguese  being 
guilty  of  heinous  crimes,  or  afraid  of  the  resentment  of  powerful 
enemies,  retreated  from  their  habitations  to  the  mountains  of  St.  Paul, 
as  they  called  them,  lying  in  between  twenty  and  thirty  degrees  of 
south  latitude,  above  two  hundred  miles  from  their  nearest  planta- 
tions, and  yearly  increasing,  at  length  formed  a  government  amongst 
themselves.     Some    in(iuisitive   person  perceiving,  in  divers  places, 
somewhat  glister,  after  the  canals  of  the  torrents  produced  by  great 
rains,  at  a  certain  time  of  the  year,  were  dry,  upon  trial   found  it 
(the  sand  and  filth  being  washed  away)  very  fine  gold.     They  having, 
upon  consultation,  amassed  a  good  ((uantity  thereof,  made  their  peace 
with  the  King  of  Portugal,  and  are  a  peculiar  jurisdiction,  paying 


COXF/s  (LOUISIANA)  CAUOLANA. 


275 


the  King  his  quint  or  fiftli,  which  i.s  rcsorvoil  in  all  grants  of  tho  Crown 
of  ."^pain  ami  Portugal;  and  arc  constantly  suppliccl  by  tho  merchants 
for  ready  money  with  whatsoever  commodities  they  want.  And  I 
am  informed  by  divers  credible  persons,  who  have  long  lived  in 
Portugal,  that  from  this  otherwise  contemptible  useless  country,  is 
brought  by  every  Brazil  fleet  above  twelve  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
pounds  sterling,  only  in  gold.  Who  knows  but  what  happened  to 
them,  may  one  time  or  other,  in  like  manner,  happen  to  the  future 
inhabitants  of  this  country,  not  yet  cultivated,  fully  discovered  or  ran- 
sacked by  Kuropean.s '{ 

There  are  in  divers  parts  of  this  province,  orpiment,  and  sandaracha 
in  great  quantity;  and  all  the  writers  on  metals  and  minerals  atlirm, 
they  not  only  contain  gold,  but  where  they  are  found  they  are  generally 
the  covering  of  mines  of  gold  or  silver. 

]Jut  suppose  all  that  preceded  is  coi\jecture,  imposture,  or  visionary, 
what  I  now  suggest  deserves  great  attention,  and  when  the  country 
is  settled,  may  invite  tho  best  heads  and  longest  purses  to  combine, 
at  least,  to  make  a  fair  trial  of  what  the  Spaniards  attempted  upon 
naked  conjectures. 

The  mines  of  New  Biscay,*  ( Jallicia  and  New  Mexico,  out  of  which 
such  vast  <|uantities  of  silver  is  yearly  .sent  to  Spain,  besides  what  is 
detained  for  their  domestic  utensils,  wherein  they  are  very  maguiliceut, 
lie  contiguous  to  this  country  —  to  .say  nothing  of  gold,  whereof 
tliey  have  considerable  (|uantities,  though  not  proportionable  in  bulk 
or  value  to  the  silver.  But  there  is  a  ridge  of  hills  which  run  almost 
due  north  and  south  between  their  country  and  ours,  not  thirty  miles 
•.ifoad,  and  in  divers  places,  for  many  miles,  abounding  with  silver 
-Mnes,  more  than  they  can  work,  for  want  of  native  Spaniards,  and 
Negroes.  And,  which  is  very  remarkable,  they  unanimously  allirm, 
the  further  north,  the  richer  the  mines  of  silver  are.  M'liich  brings 
to  mind  what  Polybius,  Livy,  Pliny,  and  many  other  of  the  (Ireek 
and  lloman  historians,  and  writers  of  natural  history  unanimously 
report;  that  the  rich  mines  in  Spain,  upon  which  the  Cutliaginians 
so  much  depended,  and  which  greatly  enriched  them,  w  re  in  tho 
Asturias  and  Pyrenean  mountains,  the  most  northerly  part  of  Spain, 
and  in  a  much  greater  northern  latitude  than  the  furthest  mines  of 
New  ^lexico,  near  their  capital  city  Santa  I'ee,  situate  in  about  thirty- 
six  dejirees.     Not  but  that  there  are    more  and  richer  mines  more 


I 


■t 


1  \ 


•  The  silver  mines  of  St.  Bnrbe.  in   tlif   Giia(!nlnii|'i'  rnouiitains,  are  s;iiil  by 
travelers  to  be  amung  tlie  jichest  in  tlio  world. 


■  l.«»..l.  ^< 


270 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


northerly  than  Santa  Fee,  but  they  arc  hindered  from  working  them  by 
three  or  four  populous  and  well  policed  nations,  who  have  beat  the 
Spaniards  in  many  rencounters,  not  to  say  battles ;  and  for  a  hundred 
years  tl.ey  have  not  been  able,  by  their  own  confession,  to  gain  from 
them  one  inch  of  ground. 

l*liny  in  particular  affirms,  that  every  year  twenty  tbousand  pounds 
of  gold  were  brought  from  their  mines  in  Spain :  and  that  one  mine 
called  Uebello,  from  the  first  discoverer,  yielded  to  Hannibal  every 
day  three  hundred  pounds  weight  of  silver,  besides  a  very  rich  copi- 
ous mine  of  minium,  cinnabaris,  or  vermilion,  the  mother  of  quick- 
silver, out  of  which  only  it  is  extracted.  He  adds,  that  the  llomans 
continued  to  work  these  mines  unto  his  time,  which  was  about  three 
hundred  years ;  but  they  were  not  then  so  profitable,  by  reason  of  sub- 
terranoal  waters,  which  gave  them  much  trouble,  they  having  then 
digged  fifteen  hundred  paces  into  the  mountain.  But  what  is  very 
remarkable  and  to  our  present  purpose,  these  mines  were  not  in  the 
most  southerly  or  middle  parts  of  Spain,  but  as  above  to  the  north- 
ward. Now  1  desire  any  intelligent  person,  skillful  in  mineral  afiairs, 
to  as.sign  a  probable  reason  why  we,  who  are  on  that  side  of  the  ridge 
of  hills  obvertcd  to  the  rising  sun,  which  was  always  (how  justly  I 
know  not)  reckoned  to  abound  in  metals  and  minerals,  more  than 
those  exposed  to  the  setting  sun,  may  not  hope  for  and  expect  as 
many  and  as  rich  mines,  as  any  the  Spaniards  are  masters  of,  on  the 
other  or  west  side  of  these  mountains  !*  Especially  since  several  of  the 
Spani.sh  historians  and  naturalists  observe,  that  the  mines  on  the 
eastern  side  of  the  mountain  of  I'otosi  in  Peru,  are  much  more  nu- 
merous and  rich  than  those  on  the  western. 


OP 


SOME  NEW  COUNTRIES  AND  NATIONS 


IN 


NORTH  AMEllICA, 

IN  1673, 
BY  PERE  MARQUETTE  AND  SIEUR  JOLIET. 


TRANSLATED  FROM  THK  FRENCH. 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  DISCOVERY 


It 


A\  ACCOUNT  OF  THK  DISCOVKKY 


or 


SOME   NEW   COUNTRIES  AND   NATIONS 


i 


NORTH  AMERICA, 

IN  1(>73, 

EV  VFAIE  MAlUa  KTTE*  AND  SIETIll  JOLIKT. 

TRANSLATED  FROM  THE  FRENCH. 


'  ■ 


I  emuarked  with  M.  Juliet,  who  htid  heen  chosen  to  conduct  this 
enterprise,  on  the  l^th  May,  1073,  with  five  other  rrencbu»eu,  in  two 

•  FhiIkt  JnsL'|)li  Msirquctte,  an  illustrious  French  Missinimry,  of  nolile  hirlli 
was  iKirii  in  I'icanly,  France.  Previous  to  his  discovery  of  the  Mississippi  he 
hail  resided  in  Ciuiiida.  where  he  acijiiired  a  knowledge  of  tho  languiigc;*  of  the 
principal  Iiidiuti  tribes  who  lived  in  the  regions  about  the  li'l^es. 

i'liese  Indians  had  given  liirn  from  time  to  tiii,.;  acconnis  of  a  (Jrcat  River 
of  the  West,  vt-liich  ihey  called  Mesclia-cebe.  or  the  Grei-t  river;  Namcsc-sipnii, 
or  the  River  of  the  Fishes.  Wliile  otliers  called  it  Cliucagua,  Sassa-giMila,  and 
Maia-biinchi.  It  has  been  subse'ineiitly  called  by  the  Spaniards  La  I'alissade, 
Rio  Esaindido;  and  by  the  French  Colbert,  and  sometimes  St.  L<.)uis.  It  soon 
became  a  matter  of  curious  speculation  what  course  this  river  pursued,  and 
at  what  place  it  diseiulx)!,'ned  itself  into  the  sea.  In  order,  therefore,  to  estab- 
lish this  point,  as  well  as  to  close  his  career  with  some  brilliant  iliscuvery 
before  he  returned  to  France,  M.  Talon  planned  an  expedition  to  explore  it 
to  its  month.  For  tins  purpose  he  selected  M.  Joliet,  a  merchant  of  (Quebec, 
to  conduct  the  enterprise;  a  man  of  intelligence,  of  great  ex|)erieiK.'e  in  Indian 
atfairs,and  who  possessed  a  bold  and  energetic  spirit.  He  also  ass.u'iated  with 
him  Father  Marquette,  who  had  been  long  and  favorably  known  to  the  Indians 
by  his  missionary  labors. 

They  accordingly  set  out  on  a  voyage  of  discovery  on  the  1 3th  .May,  1073,   On 


280 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


I 


M 


,i  ,1;. 


bitrk  canooa.*  We  laid  in  some  Indian  corn  and  smoked  boof  for  our 
voyage.  We  fin^it  took  care,  however,  to  draw  from  the  Indians  all 
the  information  we  could,  concerning  the  countries  through  which  wo 
designed  to  travel,  and  drew  up  a  map,  on  which  wo  marked  down  the 
rivers,  nations,  and  points  of  the  compass  to  guide  us  in  our  journey. 
The  first  nation  we  came  to  w;is  called  the  Folles-AvoiuoSjf  or  the 
nad'i/n  of  wild  oats.  \  entered  their  river  to  visit  them,  as  I  had 
preached  among  thei:»  some  years  before.  The  wild  oats,  from  which 
they  derive  their  name,  grows  spontaneously  in  their  country.  They 
grow  in  marshy  ground,  ami  are  not  unlike  our  European  oats.  The 
grain  is  not  thicker  than  ours,  but  it  is  twice  as  long,  and  therefore  it 
yields  much  more  meal.     It  makes  its  appearance  in  June  and  does 

liis  riMtirn  Father  I\I:irqneite  wrote  an  account  of  liis  voyano,  wliicli  he  sent 
to  France,  where  it  was  |)iilili>lietl  in  KlSl.  In  every  point  ol'  view  this  narrsi- 
live  is  one  ol'  the  most  aiiihentic  ami  interestinj;  which  can  illnstriite  the  early 
history  of  Louisiana.  It  is  rehited  of  tlie  Sieur  Joliet  tfiat  lie  also  kept  a  journal 
of  this  ex[)e(lition,  which  was  afterwards  lost  by  the  upsetting  of  liis  canoe  in 
the  river  .St.  J.awrence,  as  he  was  returning  to  Montreal.  The  French  Govern- 
ineiit  some  y  irs  afterwards  rewanled  the  Sieur  Joliet  for  this  service,  by  a 
grant  of  tlie  i    •nid  of  Anticosti,  in  tlie  St.  Lawrence. 

Nothing  is  k  -wn  of  Marciuette  exce|)t  what  is  related  of  him  by  Ciiailevoix. 
After  returning  )in  this  expedition,  he  took  np  his  residence  and  pursued  the 
vocation  of  a  ni  ionary  among  the  Mianiies,  in  the  neighborhood  (jf  Chicago. 
While  passing  '  water  along  the  eastern  shore  of  Ljike  JMichigan,  towards 
jMichilimackina  lie  entered  a  small  river  on  the  l^th  May,  ICi?.').  Having 
landed  he  const  cted  an  altar,  performed  mass,  and  then  retired  a  sliort  dis- 
tance into  the  ^  od,  requesting  the  two  men  who  liad  charge  of  his  canoe  to 
leave  him  alon  .'or  half  an  hour.  When  tlie  time  had  elapsed  the  men  went 
to  seek  for  hini,  .  il  found  him  dead.  They  were  greatly  surprised  at  this 
event,  but  they  remembered  that  when  he  was  entering  the  river  he  expressed 
a  presentiment  that  liis  life  would  end  lier(>.  To  this  day  the  river  retains  the 
name  of  Marquette.  His  remains  W'cre  removeit,  the  year  after  his  death,  to 
the  Catholic  cemetery  at  Michilimackinac, 

•  .^larquette  and  Joliet's  point  of  departure  to  discover  the  Mississipjii  River 
was  the  French  post  at  Michilimackinac,  from  whence  they  proceeded  to  Fox 
River,  which  falls  into  Green  (Potawoiamic)  Bay.  Fifteen  years  afterwartls,  the 
celebrated  traveler.  La  Hontan,  set  out  from  the  same  post  to  explore  the  Mis- 
souri and  St.  Peters  Rivers. 

■j-  Folks-Jlvdints  was  the  name  given  l)y  tlie  French  to  the  "  Mennnionies,"' 
who  lived  to  the  north  of  the  Bay  of  Puans  or  Green  Rny.  They  were  Ixmnded 
on  the  north  by  tlie  Chippeways;  on  the  south  by  tlie  Winnebagnes ;  on  the 
west  by  the  Sauks  and  Sioux  Dahcota  ;  and  east  by  i!ie  Miamies  and  Illinois 
Indians. 


MARQUETTE  AND  JOLIET  S  ACCOUNT. 


281 


«•' 


not  ripen  until  September.  In  this  month  the  Indians  go  to  sliakc  tho 
grain  off  the  ears  in  their  canoes,  which  easily  falls  if  it  be  ripe,  and 
which  afterwards  serves  them  for  food.  They  dry  it  over  a  tire,  then 
pack  it  away  in  a  kind  of  sack  made  of  the  skins  of  animals,  and 
having  made  a  hole  in  the  ground  they  put  the  sacks  therein,  and 
tread  upon  it  until  the  chaff  is  separated  from  the  grain,  and  then 
winnow  it.  Afterwards  they  pound  it  in  a  mortar  to  reduce  it  into 
meal ;  they  then  boil  it  in  water,  and  season  it  with  grease,  which 
makes  it  very  palatable. 

I  aciiuaintod  them  with  my  design  of  discovering  other  nations,  to 
preach  to  them  the  mysteries  of  our  holy  religion,  at  which  they  were 
much  surprised,  and  said  all  they  could  to  dissuade  me  from  it.  They 
told  me  I  would  meet  with  Indians  who  spare  no  strangers,  and  whom 
they  kill  without  any  provocation  or  mercy;  that  the  war  they  have 
one  with  the  other  would  expose  me  to  be  taken  by  their  warriors,  as 
they  arc  constantly  on  the  look-out  to  surprise  their  enemies.  That 
the  Great  River  was  exceedingly  dangerous,  and  full  of  frightful  mon- 
sters who  devoured  men  and  canoes  together,  and  that  tho  heat  was  so 
great  that  it  would  positively  cause  our  death.  I  thanked  tlicm  for 
their  kind  advice,  but  told  them  I  would  not  follow  it,  as  the  salvation 
of  a  great  many  souls  was  concerned  in  our  undertaking,  for  whom  I 
should  be  glad  to  lose  my  life.  I  added  that  I  defied  their  monsters, 
and  their  information  would  oblige  us  to  keep  more  upon  our  guard 
to  avoid  a  surprise.  And  having  prayed  with  them,  and  given  them 
some  instructions,  we  set  out  for  the  liny  of  I'uan  ((Irecn  Bay),  where 
our  missionaries  had  been  successful  in  converting  them.  The  name 
they  give  to  this  bay  is  preferable  in  the  Indian  language  to  ours ;  for, 
according  to  the  word  they  make  u.se  of,  it  signifies  Sdft  Btty.  It  is 
tho  name  they  give  to  the  sea.  This  obliged  us  to  inquire  whether 
there  were  any  salt  springs  in  their  country,  as  among  the  IriKjuois, 
but  they  could  not  tell  us  of  any. 

This  bay  (Green  Bay)  is  about  thirty  leagues  long,  and  eight  broad 
in  the  greatest  breadth  ;  for  it  grows  narrower  and  forms  a  cone  at  tho 
extremity.  It  has  tides  that  flow  and  ebb  as  regular  as  the  sea.  We 
left,  this  bay  to  go  into  a  river  (Fox  River)  that  di.schargcs  it.self 
therein,  and  found  its  mouth  very  broad  and  deep.  It  lluws  very 
gently,  but  after  we  had  advanced  some  leagues  into  it  wo  found  it 
difficult  to  navigate,  on  account  of  the  rocks  and  the  curronts;  we  for- 
tunately o'crcame  all  these  difficulties.  It  abounds  in  bustards,  ducks, 
and  other  birds,  which  arc  attracted  there  by  the  wild  oats,  of  which 


II 


1  1 


282 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


they  are  very  fond.  We  next  came  to  a  village  of  the  Jhuskoutons,* 
or  nation  of  fire.  Here  I  had  the  curiosity  to  taste  sonic  niinoral 
water  which  came  from  a  spring  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  and  to 
examine  a  plant  which  the  Indians  had  told  Father  AUoucz  was  a 
specific  for  the  bite  of  snakes.  The  root  of  this  plant  is  very  hot, 
and  tastes  like  gunpowder;  they  chew  it,  and  apj)ly  it  to  the  part  of 
the  body  that  has  Lv.cn  stung.  This  cures  the  wound.  The  snakes 
have  such  an  antipathy  to  this  plant,  that  they  run  away  from  a  man 
M'ho  has  his  body  rubbed  with  it.  It  has  several  stalks  about  a  foot 
in  length ;  the  leaves  are  somewhat  long ;  the  flower  is  white,  and 
the  whole  looks  like  our  gilliflower.  1  put  one  into  our  canoe  to 
examine  it  at  my  leisure. 

The  French  have  never  before  passed  beyond  the  Bay  of  Puans 
(Green  Bay).  This  Boimj  consists  of  throe  several  nations,  viz., 
MiamieSjf  Maskoutcns,  and  Kickapoos.  The  first  are  more  docile 
than  the  others,  better  formed,  and  more  liberal.  They  wear  long  hair 
over  their  ears,  which  gives  them  a  good  appearance.  They  are  es- 
teemed good  warriors,  and  so  cunning  that  they  never  return  from 
their  warlike  excursions  without  booty.  They  are  quick  to  learn  any- 
thing. Father  Allouez|  told  me  that  they  were  so  desirous  to  be  in- 
structed that  they  would  never  give  him  any  rest  at  night.     The 

•  Tlie  word  Maskoutens  means  a  "prairie."  Their  country  lies  on  the  south 
side  of  Fox  River. 

■f  The  Miamies  and  the  Illinois  have  been  considered  the  sanne  people,  from 
the  great  aflinity  between  their  lanuiuages.  The  Illinois  consisted  of  five  tribes, 
viz.,  Cahokias,  Kakaskias,  Tamaroas,  Peorias,  and  Metchegamias. 

J  Father  Clauiie  Aliouez,  a  distinguislied  French  missionary,  came  to  Canada 
in  1005.  In  1GG7  he  commenced  his  missionary  labors  among  the  Chi|)peways, 
and  formed  a  treaty  of  commerce  and  mutual  defence  with  the  Chippeways, 
Potawatomies,  Sacs,  and  Foxes,  against  the  Iroquois.  In  1000  he  learned  from 
the  remote  tribes  of  the  West  the  exi,stence  of  the  Great  River,  Mississipi)i,atiJ 
returned  to  Quebec  to  urjie  the  establishment  of  permanent  missions  among 
them,  as  well  as  to  send  out  a  party  to  explore  the  Groat  River.  As  yet  no 
Frenchman  had  advanced  beyond  Fox  River  of  Green  Bay,  All  beyond  was 
a  re;j;iou  of  romance,  unknown,  or  mystified  by  Indian  tradition.  The  un- 
wearied Jesuits  of  the  Catholic  church  were  always  in  adv.ince  of  civilization. 
The  history  of  their  labors  is  connected  with  the  origin  of  every  celebrated 
town  in  the  annals  of  French  America;  not  a  river  was  entered,  not  a  cape 
was  turned,  but  a  Jesuit  led  the  way.  The  rites  and  ceremonies  (tf  the 
Catholic  church  were  extended  to  the  remote  West.  The  Franciscan,  as  a 
mendicant  order  being  excluded  from  the  newly-discovered  worhl,  the  olfice  of 
converting  the  natives  of  New  France  was  entrusted  to  the  Jesuits.  They 
piun;'ed  into  the  aliairs  of  men,  to  maintain  the  interests  of  the  church. 


MARQUETTE  AND  JOLIET  S  ACCOUNT. 


288 


lU  * 


J 


Maskoutons  and  Kickapoos  are  more  robust,  and  resemble  oi'r  i)ea- 
sants  niijre  than  the  former.  As  the  bark  of  the  birch  tree  is  searco 
iu  this  country,  they  are  obliged  to  make  their  wigwams  with  rushes, 
which  serve  as  well  for  covering  them  as  for  walls.  It  must  be  owned 
that  they  are  convenient,  for  they  take  them  down  and  carry  them 
wherever  they  please,  without  any  trouble. 

When  I  arrived  there  I  was  very  glad  to  see  a  great  cross,  set  up  in 
the  middle  of  the  village,  adorned  with  several  white  skins,  red  girdles, 
bows  and  arrows,  which  the  converted  Indians  had  offered  to  the  great 
Manitou,  to  return  him  their  thanks  for  the  care  he  had  taken  of  them 
during  the  winter,  and  granting  them  a  prosperous  hunting.  Manitou 
is  the  name  they  give  in  general  to  all  spirits  whom  they  think  to  be 
above  the  nature  of  man.  I  took  pleasure  in  looking  at  this  loiiiy. 
It  is  beautifully  situated  on  an  eminence,  from  whence  we  look  over 
an  extensive  prairie,  interspersed  with  groves  of  trees.  The  soil  is 
very  fertile,  and  produces  large  crops  of  corn.  The  Indians  also  gather 
large  quantities  of  grapes  and  plums.  As  soon  as  we  had  arrived  wo 
assembled  the  chiefs  together,  and  informed  them  that  we  had  been 
sent  by  our  governor  to  discover  new  countries,  and  teach  them  the 
knowledge  of  their  Creator,  who  being  absolute  master  of  all  his 
creatures  will  have  all  nations  to  know  him,  and  that  therefore  to 
comply  with  his  will  we  did  not  value  our  lives,  and  were  willing  to 
subject  ourselves  to  every  kind  of  danger,  adding  that  we  wished  them 
to  furnish  us  with  two  guides,  and  enforced  our  request  with  some 
presents,  which  were  kindly  accepted  by  them,  in  return  for  which 
they  gave  us  mats,  with  which  we  made  our  beds  during  the  voyage. 
They  also  furnished  us  with  two  guides  to  accompany  us  for  some  days. 

The  next  day,  being  the  10th  of  June,  the  two  guides  (Miami'es) 
embarked  with  us  in  sight  of  all  the  village,  who  were  astonished  at 
our  attempting  so  dangerous  an  expedition.  We  were  informed  that 
at  three  leagues  from  the  Ma&koutcns,  we  should  find  a  river  which 
runs  into  the  Mississippi,  and  that  we  were  to  go  to  the  west-south- 
west to  find  it,  but  there  were  so  many  marshes  and  lakes,  that  if  it 
had  not  been  for  our  guides  we  could  not  have  found  it.  The  river 
upon  which  we  rowed  and  had  to  carry  our  canoes  from  one  to  the 
other,  looked  more  like  a  corn-field  than  a  river,  insomuch  that  wo 
could  hardly  find  its  channel.  As  our  guides  had  been  frequently  at 
this  portage,  they  knew  the  way,  and  helped  us  to  carry  our  canoes 
overland  into  the  other  river,  distant  about  two  miles  and  a  hidf ; 
from  whence  they  returned  home,  leaving  us  iu  an  unknown  country, 


284 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


ua 


j-;! 


having  nothing  to  rely  upon  hut  Divine  Providence.  We  now  left 
the  waters  which  extend  to  Quehec,  uhout  five  or  six  hundred  leagues, 
to  tiike  those  which  would  lead  us  hereafter  into  strange  lands. 

Before  embarking  wo  all  offered  up  prayers  to  the  Holy  Virgin, 
which  we  continued  to  do  every  morning,  placing  ourselves  and  the 
events  of  the  journey  under  her  protection,  and  after  having  en- 
couraged each  other,  we  got  into  our  canoes.  The  river  upon  which 
we  embarked  is  called  Mesconsin  (Wisconsin);  the  river  is  very  wide, 
but  the  sand  bars  make  it  very  diflScult  to  navigate,  wlich  is  increased 
by  numerous  islands  covered  with  grape  vines.  The  country  through 
which  it  flows  is  beautiful ;  the  groves  are  so  dispersed  in  the  prairies 
that  it  makes  a  noble  prospect ;  and  the  fruit  of  the  trees  shows  a  fertile 
soil.  These  groves  are  full  of  walnut,  oak,  and  other  trees  unknown 
to  us  in  Europe.  We  saw  neither  game  nor  fish,  but  roebuck  and 
buffaloes  in  great  numbers.  After  having  navigated  thirty  leagues 
we  discovered  some  iron  mines,  and  one  of  our  company  who  had  seen 
such  mines  before,  said  these  were  very  rich  in  ore.  They  are  covered 
with  about  three  feet  of  soil,  and  situate  near  a  chain  of  rocks,  whose 
base  is  covered  with  fine  timber.  After  having  rowed  ten  leagues 
further,  making  forty  leagues  from  the  place  where  we  had  embarked, 
we  came  into  the  Mississippi  on  the  17th  June  (1073). 

The  mouth  of  the  Mesconsin  (Wisconsin)  is  in  about  42 1°  N.  lat. 
Behold  us,  then,  upon  this  celebrated  river,  whose  singularities  I  have 
attentively  studied.  The  3Iississippi  takes  its  rise  in  several  lakes  in 
the  North.  Its  channel  is  very  narrow  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mescon- 
sin, and  runs  south  until  it  is  affected  by  very  high  hills.  Its  current 
is  slow,  because  of  its  depth.  In  sounding  we  found  nineteen  fathoms 
of  water.  A  little  further  on  it  widens  neai-ly  three-quarters  of  a  league, 
and  the  width  continues  to  be  more  equal.  We  slowly  followed  its 
course  to  the  south  and  south-east  to  the  42*^  N.  lat.  Here  we  per- 
ceived the  country  change  its  appearance.  There  were  scarcely  any 
more  woods  or  mountains.  The  islands  arc  covered  with  fine  trees, 
but  we  could  not  see  any  more  roebucks,  buffaloes,  bustards,  and 
swans.  We  met  from  time  to  time  monstrous  fish,  which  struck  so 
violently  against  our  canoes,  that  at  first  we  took  them  to  be  large 
trees,  which  threatened  to  upset  us.  We  saw  also  a  hideous  mouster; 
his  head  was  like  that  of  a  tiger,  his  nose  was  sharp,  and  somewhat 
resembled  a  wildcat ;  his  beard  was  long  j  his  ears  stood  upright ;  the 
color  of  his  head  was  gray  ;  and  his  neck  black.  He  looked  upon  us 
for  some  time,  but  as  we  came  near  him  our  oars  frightened  him  away. 


I 


MARQUETTE  AND  JOUET  S  ACCOUNT. 


285 


'^ay 


f. 


I 


When  wo  threw  our  nets  into  the  water  we  caught  an  abundance  of 
sturgodiis,  and  another  kind  of  fish  lil<e  our  trout,  except  that  the 
eyes  and  nose  are  much  smaller,  and  thoy  have  near  the  nose  a  bone 
like  a  woman's  busk,  three  inches  broad  and  a  foot  and  a  lialf  U)ng, 
the  end  of  which  is  flat  and  broad,  and  when  it  leajis  out  of  the  water 
the  wciglit  of  it  throws  it  on  its  back. 

Having  descended  the  river  as  far  as  41°  28',  we  found  that  turkeys 
took  the  place  of  game,  and  the  Pisikious  that  of  other  animals.  Wo 
call  tlie  I'isikious  wild  buffaloes,  because  they  very  much  resemble  our 
domestic  oxen ;  they  are  not  so  long,  but  twice  as  large.  We  shot  one 
of  them,  and  it  was  as  much  as  thirteen  men  could  do  to  drag  him 
from  the  place  where  he  fell.  They  have  an  enormous  head,  their 
forehead  is  broad  and  flat,  and  their  horns,  between  wliich  tliere  is  at 
least  a  foot  and  a  half  distance,  are  all  black  and  much  longer  than  our 
European  oxen.  They  have  a  hump  on  the  back,  and  their  bead, 
breast,  and  a  part  of  the  shoulders  arc  covered  with  long  hair.  They 
have  in  the  middle  of  their  forehead  an  ugly  tuft  of  long  hair,  which, 
falling  down  over  their  eyes,  blinds  them  in  a  manner,  and  makes 
them  look  hideous.  The  rest  of  the  body  is  covered  with  curled  hair, 
or  rather  wool  like  our  sheep,  but  much  thicker  and  stronger.  They 
shed  their  hair  in  summer,  and  their  skin  is  as  soft  as  velvet,  leaving 
nothing  but  a  short  down.  The  Indians  use  their  skins  for  cloaks, 
which  they  paint  with  figures  of  several  colors.  Their  flesh  and  fat  is 
excellent,  and  the  best  dish  of  the  Indians,  who  kill  a  great  many  of 
them.  They  are  very  fierce  and  dangerous,  and  if  they  can  hook  a 
man  with  their  horns,  they  toss  him  up  and  then  tread  upon  him.  The 
Indians  bide  themselves  when  they  shoot  at  them,  otherwise  they 
would  be  in  great  danger  of  losing  their  lives.  They  follow  them  at 
great  distances  till,  by  loss  of  blood,  they  are  unable  to  hurt  or  defend 
themselves.  They  graze  upon  the  bunks  of  rivers,  and  1  have  seen 
four  hundred  in  a  herd  together. 

We  contiimed  to  descend  the  river,  not  knowing  where  we  were 
going,  and  having  made  an  hundred  leagues  without  seeing  anything 
but  wild  beasts  and  birds,  and  being  on  our  guard  we  landed  at  night 
to  make  our  fire  and  prepare  our  repast,  and  then  left  the  shore  to  an- 
chor in  the  river,  while  one  of  us  watched  by  turns  to  prevent  a  surprise. 
We  went  south  and  south-west  until  we  found  ourselves  in  about  the 
latitude  of  40°  and  some  minutes,  having  rowed  more  than  sixty  leagues 
since  we  entered  the  river.  On  the  2.5th  June  we  went  ashore,  and 
found  souje  traces  of  men  upon  the  sand,  and  a  path  which  led  into  a 


28G 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


largo  prairie.  We  judged  it  led  to  an  Indian  village,  and  concluded 
to  examine  it.  We  therefore  left  our  canoes  in  charge  of  our  men, 
while  31.  Jolict  and  I  went  to  explore  it;  a  hold  undertaking  for  two 
men  in  a  savage  country.  We  followed  this  little  path  in  sih;iice  about 
two  leagues,  when  we  discovered  a  village  on  the  ))anks  of  a  river,  and 
two  others  on  a  hill  about  half  a  league  from  the  first.  AVe  now  com- 
mended ourselves  to  God,  and  having  implored  his  help,  we  came  so 
near  to  the  Indians  that  we  could  hear  them  talk.  We  now  tiiought 
it  time  to  make  ourselves  known  to  them  by  screaming  aloud.  At 
the  sound  of  our  voices,  the  Indians  left  their  huts,  and  probably  taking 
U8  for  Frenchmen,  one  of  us  having  a  black  robe  on,  and  seeing  but 
two  of  us,  and  being  warned  of  our  arrival,  they  sent  four  old  men  to 
speak  to  us,  two  of  whom  brought  pipes,  ornamented  with  different 
colored  feathers.  They  marched  slowly,  without  saying  a  word,  but 
presenting  their  pipes  to  the  sun,  fis  if  they  wished  it  to  smoke  them. 

They  wi're  a  long  time  coming  from  their  village,  but  as  soon  as 
they  came  near,  they  halted  to  take  a  view  of  us,  and  seeing  the 
ceremonies  they  pin-formed,  and  especially  seeing  them  covered  with 
cloth,  we  judged  that  they  were  our  allies.  I  then  spoke  to  them, 
and  they  said  that  they  were  Illinois,  and  as  a  sign  of  friendship  they 
presented  us  tlieir  pipes  to  smoke.  They  invited  us  to  their  village, 
where  all  the  people  had  impatiently  waited  for  us.  These  jiipes  are 
called  by  the  Indians  calumets,  and  as  this  word  is  so  common  among 
them,  I  shall  make  use  of  it  in  future,  when  I  want  to  speak  of  pipes. 
At  tlie  door  of  the  cabin  in  which  we  were  to  l)e  received,  we  found 
an  old  man  in  a  very  remarkable  posture,  which  is  the  usual  ceremony 
in  receiving  strangers.  lie  was  standing  up,  all  naked,  with  his 
hands  lifted  up  to  Heaven,  as  if  he  wished  to  screen  himse'lf  from  the 
rays  of  the  sun,  Avhieh  nevertheless  passed  through  his  lingers  to  his 
face.  When  we  came  near  to  him,  he  said,  "  What  a  fair  d;iy,  French- 
men, this  is  to  come  to  visit  us!  All  our  people  have  waited  for  thee, 
and  thou  shalt  enter  our  cabin  in  peace."  He  then  took  us  into  his, 
where  there  were  a  crowd  of  people  who  devoured  us  with  tluir  eyes, 
but  who  kept  a  profound  silence.  We  only  occasionally  heard  these 
words  in  a  low  voice,  "  These  are  our  brothers  who  have  come  to 
see  us." 

As  soon  as  we  sat  down,  they  presented  us,  according  to  custom, 
their  calumet,  which  one  must  accept,  or  he  would  lie  lookeil  upon  as 
an  enemy,  and  it  is  sufficient  to  place  it  only  to  your  mouth,  and  pre- 
tend to  smoke.  While  the  old  men  smoked  in  our  cabin  to  entertain 
us,  the  great  chief  of  the  Illinois  sent  us  word  to  come  to  his  village, 


MAUQIETTE  AND  JOLIET  S  ACCOUNT. 


287 


wluro  he  wisln'tl  to  holJ  a  oniiiicil  with  us.  Wi'  wont  acc'iirtlinf.'ly 
to  him,  iiiul  wt'iv  followed  hy  all  the  peopK'  of  this  villa<.'i',  for  they 
had  never  seen  any  Fronchincn  licforc.  They  never  aipjreared  tired 
of  ttazina  at  us.  Thev  went  backwards  and  forwards  t(»  look  at  us, 
without  niakiuf^  any  noise,  and  this  they  esteenicil  as  a  mark  of  respeet. 
Ilaviuf^  arrived  at  the  borough  of  the  chief,  we  espied  him  at  the  door 
of  his  ealiin,  l)etween  two  old  men,  who  were  likewise  naked,  and 
standinjr,  holding!:  the  calumet  towards  tlie  sun.  He  made  us  a  short 
speech,  to  congratulate  us  on  our  arrival  in  his  country,  and  presented 
us  with  his  calumet,  which  we  had  to  smoke  before  we  could  enter  into 
his  cabin.  This  ceremony  being  over,  he  condiu-ted  us  and  desired  us 
to  sit  down  upon  a  mat,  and  the  old  men  of  the  nation  being  present,  I 
thought  fit  to  acquaint  them  with  the  subject  of  our  voyage,  and  there- 
fore I  told  them,  Lst,  that  we  designed  to  visit  all  nations  tlmt  were 
on  the  river,  down  to  the  sea.  2d.  That  God,  who  had  created  them, 
took  pity  on  them,  and  had  S(,'nt  me  to  bring  them  to  a  knowledge  of 
Ilim,  and  to  repent.  Jid.  That  the  great  captain  of  the  J-'reiieh  had 
commanded  me  to  tell  them  that  he  had  con(|uered  the  Iroipiois,  and 
wished  to  live  in  peace  with  them.  4th.  And  lastly,  that  we  desired 
them  to  tell  us  all  about  the  sea  and  the  nations  we  were  to  pass 
through  before  we  arrived  there. 

After  we  sat  down,  the  chief  placed  a  slave  near  us,  and  made  us  a 
present  of  the  mysterious  calumet,  which  he  thought  more  valuable 
to  us  than  the  slave,  lie  showed  to  us  by  this  present  his  respect  for 
our  great  captain,  and  he  begged  us  to  remain  among  them,  because 
of  the  dangers  to  which  we  were  exposed  in  our  voyage.  1  told  him 
that  we  did  not  fear  death,  and  that  I  would  esteem  it  a  happiness  to 
lose  my  life  in  the  service  of  God,  at  which  he  seemed  to  be  much 
surprised.  The  council  being  over,  we  were  invited  to  a  feast,  which 
consisted  of  four  dishes.  The  first  was  a  dish  of  sagamite,  that  is  some 
Indian  meal  boiled  in  water,  and  seasoned  with  grease ;  the  master  of 
ceremonies  holding  a  spoonful  of  it,  which  he  put  thrice  into  my 
mouth,  ami  then  did  the  like  to  M.  Joliet.  The  second  dish  consisted 
of  three  iisli,  whereof  he  took  a  piece,  and  having  taken  out  I  lie  bones, 
and  blown  up(tn  it  to  cool  it,  he  put  it  into  my  mouth.  The  third 
dish  was  a  large  dog,  which  they  had  killed  on  purpose,  ])ut  under- 
standing that  we  did  not  eat  this  animal  they  sent  it  away.  The 
fourth  was  a  piece  of  buffalo  meat,  of  which  they  put  the  fattest 
pieces  into  our  mouths. 

As  soon  as  we  had  feasted,  we  were  taken  to  a  vilhige  of  three  hun- 
dred cabins,  attended  by  an  officer,  who  kept  the  people  from  crowding 


«' 


I 


I" 


288 


IllSTOUlCAL  COLLECTIONS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


upon  us.  They  pro.soiitcd  us  with  belts,  fjartcrs,  and  other  articles 
made  nf  the  hair  of  bears  and  buffaloes.  We  .slept  in  the  chief's  hut, 
and,  on  the  following  morning,  we  took  leave  of  him,  promising  to 
return  to  his  vilhige  in  four  moons.  He  escorted  us  to  our  canoes 
with  nearly  si.v  hundred  persons,  who  saw  us  embark,  evincing  in 
every  way  the  pleasure  our  visit  gave  them.  It  will  not  be  improper 
for  mo  to  relate  here,  what  I  oljserved  of  the  customs  and  maimers 
of  this  peo[)le,  which  are  very  different  from  any  I  have  ever  before 
visited.  The  word  ///initio  in  their  language  signifies  men;  as  if  thoy 
looked  upon  all  (»ther  Indians  as  beasts.  And  truly  it  must  be  con- 
fessed that  they  are  more  humane  than  any  others  I  have  ever  .seen. 
The  short  time  1  remained  with  them  did  not  permit  me  to  inform 
myself  of  their  customs  and  manners  as  much  as  I  desired.  They 
are  divided  into  several  villages,  some  of  which  I  have  ncjt  seen. 
They  live  so  remote  from  other  nations,  that  their  language  is  entirely 
different.  They  called  themselves  ^'J'crouurca."  Their  language  is 
a  dialect  of  the  Algonquin.  They  are  very  mild  in  their  dispositions. 
They  keep  several  wives,  of  whom  they  are  very  jealous,  and  watch 
them  closel}'.  If  they  behave  unchastely,  they  cut  off  tlu'ir  ears  or 
uo.se,  of  which  I  saw  several  who  carried  those  marks  of  their  infi- 
delity. 

The  Jlh'nois  are  well  formed  and  very  nimble.  They  are  skill- 
ful with  their  bows  and  rifles,  with  which  they  are  supplied  by  the 
Indians  who  trade  with  our  Frenchmen.  This  makes  them  formidable 
to  their  enemies,  who  have  no  firearms.  They  make  excursions  to 
the  west  to  capture  slaves,  which  they  barter  with  other  nations  for 
the  commodities  they  want.  Those  nations  are  entirely  ignorant  of 
iron  tools ;  their  knives,  axes,  and  other  instruments,  are  made  of  flint 
and  other  sharp  stones.  When  the  Illinois  go  upon  a  war  expedition, 
the  whole  village  is  notified  by  an  outcry  at  the  door  of  their  huts  the 
morning  and  evening  before  they  set  out.  Their  chiefs  are  distin- 
guished from  the  soldiers,  by  red  scarfs  made  of  the  hair  of  buffaloes, 
curiously  wrought,  which  are  taken  only  a  few  days'  journey  from 
their  village.  They  live  by  hunting,  and  on  Indian  corn,  of  which 
they  always  have  a  plenty.  Thoy  sow  beans  and  melons,  which 
arc  excellent,  especially  those  whose  seed  is  red.  They  dry  them, 
and  keep  them  till  the  winter  and  spring. 

Their  cabins  are  large ;  they  are  covered  and  ciirpeted  with  rushes. 
Their  dishes  are  of  wood,  but  their  spoons  are  made  with  the  bones  of 
the  buffalo,  which  they  cut  so  as  to  make  them  very  convenient  to  eat 
their  sufjamke  with.     They  have  physicians  among  them  to  whom,  ia 


MAUQUETTE  AND  .lOLIET  S  ACCY)UNT. 


289 


cases  of  sifknoHs,  they  arc  vory  lil)or!il.  Tlu'ir  ddfliing  consists  of  the 
Hk'ma  of  wild  uniiiitils,  which  wrvo  to  clothe  their  wojucii,  who  dri-sa 
very  nKxlcstly,  while  the  iiieii  go  most  of  the  year  almost  naked.  »^ome 
of  the  Illinois  ;uid  Niidonessiun.s  wear  women's  ajiparel,  and  when  they 
put  it  on  in  their  youth,  they  never  leave  it  olf.  There  must  certainly 
be  some  mystijry*  in  this.  They  never  marry,  but  work  in  the  cabins 
with  the  women,  which  the  other  men  think  it  lieneath  them  ti»  do. 
They  assist  in  all  the  juggleries  and  the  solemn  dance  in  honor  of  the 
calumet,  but  they  are  not  penuitted  either  to  dance  or  sing.  They 
are  called  to  their  councils,  and  nothing  is  determineil  without  their 
advice;  for  because  of  their  extraordinary  manner  of  living,  they  are 
hjoked  upon  a,s  mani'tous  or  person.s  of  conseijuencc. 

It  now  oidy  remains  for  me  to  speak  of  the  calumet,  the  most  mys- 
terious thing  in  the  world.  The  sceptres  of  our  kings  are  not  so 
much  respected ;  for  the  Indians  have  such  a  deference  fir  it,  that  one 
may  call  it  "T/i':  (lod  of  Peace  and  War,  ami  tin:  tirbikr  of  li/h  and 
dcaUi."  One  with  thi.s  calumet  may  venture  amongst  his  enemies, 
and  on  the  hottest  batth.'s  they  lay  down  their  arms  before  this  sacred 
pijie.  The  Illinois  presented  me  with  one  of  them,  which  was  very 
useful  to  us  in  our  voyage.  Their  Calumet  of  Pence  is  different  fn  ni 
the  Calumet  of  War ;  they  make  use  of  the  former  to  seal  their  alli- 
ances and  treaties,  to  travel  with  safety,  and  receive  strangers ;  and  the 
other  is  to  proclaim  war.  It  i.s  made  of  a  red  stone,  and  smooth  as 
marble.  The  head  is  like  our  common  tobacco  pipe,  but  larger,  and 
fixed  to  a  hollow  reed,  to  hold  it  for  smoking.  They  ornament  it 
with  the  licad  and  neck  of  different  birds,  to  which  they  add  larg(> 
feathers  of  different  colors,  and  call  it  The  Calumet  of  the  Sun,  to 
whom  they  present  it  when  they  want  fair  weather,  or  rain,  believing 
that  this  planet  cannot  have  less  respect  for  it  than  they  themselves, 
and  therefore  they  will  obtain  their  wishes.  They  do  not  dare  to 
wash  themselves  in  the  rivers  in  the  beginning  of  summer,  or  eat  new 
fruit,  before  they  have  danced  the  calumet. 

This  dance  of  the  calumet  is  a  solemn  ceremony  among  the  In- 
dians, which  they  only  perform  on  important  occasions,  such  as  to  con- 
firm an  alliance,  or  make  peace  with  their  neighbors.  They  also  use 
it  to  entertain  any  nation  that  comes  to  visit  them;  and  in  this  case 
we  may  consider  it  as  their  grand  entertainment.  They  perform  it  in 
winter  time  in  their  cabins,  and  in  the  open  field  in  summer.     They 


*  See   Hennepin's  account  of  til  is  custom  in  liis  "Voyage  en  un  pays  plus 
grand  (jue  L'Europe  entro  la  mer  glaciale  and  le  nouveau  Mexique." 

20 


21)0 


HISTORICAL  COLI.ECTIOX.S  OF  LOLISIANA. 


choose  for  tliat  purpose  li  place  umler  the  trees,  to  shelter  thenriselves 
agikinst  the  heut  of  the  sun,  ami  lay  in  the  nii<lille  of  il  u  liirge  mat; 
to  place  the  god  of  the  chief  of  tiie  company  upon,  who  gives  the  cn- 
tertainiueut.  For  every  one  has  his  peculiar  god,  whon>  they  cull 
vKinitaa.  It  is  BOiuetiines  a  stone,  a  bird,  a  serpent,  or  anything  else 
that  they  dream  of  in  their  sleep.  They  lielievo  that  thia  manitoa 
will  prosper  their  sports,  of  lishing,  hunting,  and  other  enterprises. 
To  the  right  of  their  mnnlloa  they  i)lace  the  calumet,  their  great 
deity,  making  round  about  it  a  kind  of  trophy  with  their  amis,  namely, 
their  clubs,  axes,  bows,  ((uivers,  and  arrows.*  Things  being  thus  ar- 
ranged, and  the  hour  for  dancing  iiaving  arrived,  the  men  and  women 
who  are  to  sing  take  the  most  honorable  scats  under  the  trees  or 
arbors.  Every  one,  then,  who  conies  in  afterwards  sits  down,  in  a  ring, 
as  they  arrive,  having  first  saluted  the  manitoa,  by  jtufEng  tobacco 
smoke  upon  it,  which  signifies  as  much  as  making  it  an  ofleriug  of 
incense. 

Tlien  the  Indians,  one  after  the  other,  take  the  calumet,  and,  hold- 
ing it  with  both  hands,  dances  with  it,  following  the  cadence  of  tho 
songs,  by  making  different  attitudes,  turning  from  side  to  side,  and 
showing  it  to  the  whole  assembly.  This  being  over,  he  who  is  to  be- 
gin the  dance  appears  in  the  middle  of  the  as.sembly,  and  having 
taken  the  calumet,  presents  it  to  the  sun,  as  if  he  would  invite  him  to 
smoke.  Then  he  places  it  in  an  infinite  number  of  positions,  some- 
times laying  it  near  the  ground,  then  stretching  its  wings,  as  if  ho 
wanted  it  to  fly,  and  afterwards  presents  it  to  the  spectators,  who 
smoke  it,  one  after  another,  dancing  all  the  time,  as  in  the  first  scene  of 
a  ballet.  The  second  scene  is  a  combat,  accompanied  with  vocal  and  in- 
strumental music,  for  they  have  a  large  drum  which  agrees  pretty  well 
with  their  voices.  The  person  who  dances  with  the  calumet  gives  a 
signal  to  one  of  their  warriors,  who  takes  a  bow  and  arrows  from  the 
mat,  already  mentioned,  and  fights  the  other,  who  defends  himself  with 
the  calumet  alone,  both  of  them  dancing  all  the  while.  This  spectacle 
is  very  amusing,  especially  when  it  is  done  in  time,  for  the  one  attacks, 
and  the  other  defends ;  the  one  thrusts,  and  the  other  parries ;  the  one 
runs,  and  the  other  pursues ;  which  is  all  done  so  well,  with  measured 
steps,  and  at  the  regular  sound  of  voices  and  drums,  that  it  would 
easily  pass  for  a  French  ballet. 

Tho  fight  being  over,  the  third  scene  consists  of  a  speech  made  by 
him  who  holds  the  calumet,  relating  the  battles  he  has  been  in,  the 

•  These  weapons  are  still  used  in  war  by  the  Indians  west  of  the  Mississippi. 


»■; 


MAligUKTTK  AND  JOMET  S  ACCOUNT. 


l!!)l 


by 
the 

lipi. 


viflorit's  ho  has  won,  and  the  scalps  he  has  taken;  and  to  reward  him. 
the  chief  jirosonts  him  witli  a  hufVaht  mho,  iind,  liavini.'  received  it,  In 
then  gocH  and  presents  tlio  nifumrt  to  annther,  and  this  one  to  a 
third,  and  so  on  until  they  all  make  speeches,  when  the  head  chief 
j)resents  it  to  the  nation  that  has  been  invited  to  the  feast  as  a  murk 
uf  their  friendship,  and  a  continuation  of  tiieir  alliance.  There  is  a 
song  they  sing,  to  which  they  give  a  certain  turn  of  expression  which 
18  extremely  agreeable,  and  which  begins  thus : — 

"Ninnlmni,  Niimhani,  Niniiliiiiii, 
Niiiie  lingo." 

Wc  took  leave  of  our  guides  about  the  end  of  June,  and  embarked 
in  j)resenee  of  all  the  village,  who  admired  our  birch  canoes,  as  they 
had  never  before  seen  anything  like  them.  Wo  descended  the  river, 
looking  for  another  called  I'lkltanon!  (the  Missouri),  which  runs  from 
the  north-west  into  the  MiasiBsippi,  of  which  I  will  hpeak  more 
hereafter. 

As  we  followed  the  banks,  I  observed  on  the  rocks  a  medicinal  j)lant 
which  had  a  remarkable  shape.  Its  root  is  like  small  turnips  linked 
together  by  small  fibres  which  had  the  taste  of  carrots.  From  tho 
root  springs  a  leaf  as  wide  as  the  hand,  about  an  inch  thick,  with 
spots  in  the  middle,  from  whence  shoot  other  leaves,  each  of  them 
bearing  five  or  six  yellow  flowers  of  a  bell  shape.  We  found  a  (piantity 
of  mulberries  as  large  as  those  of  France,  and  a  small  fruit  which  wc 
took  at  first  for  olives,  but  it  had  the  taste  of  an  orange,  and  another 
as  large  as  a  hen's  egg.  We  broke  it  in  half,  and  found  the  insidi 
was  divided  into  two  divisions,  in  each  of  which  were  eight  or  ten 
seeds  shaped  like  au  almond,  and  very  good  to  eat  when  ripe;  th( 
tree  nevertheless  gives  out  a  bad  odor,  and  the  leaves  are  shaped  like 
that  of  the  walnut  tree.  We  saw  also  in  the  prairies  a  fruit  like  our 
filberts. 

As  we  were  descending  the  river  we  saw  high  rocks  with  hideou.« 
monsters  painted  on  them,  and  upon  which  the  bravest  Indians  dare 
not  look.  They  are  as  large  as  a  calf,  with  head  and  horns  like 
a  goat;  their  eyes  red;  beard  like  a  tiger's;  and  a  face  like  a  man's. 
Their  tails  arc  so  long  that  they  pass  over  their  heads  and  between 
their  fore  legs,  under  their  belly,  and  ending  like  a  fish's  tail.  They 
arc  painted  red,  green,  and  black.  They  are  so  well  drawn  that  I 
cannot  believe  they  were  drawn  by  the  Indians.  And  for  what  pur- 
pose they  were  made  seems  to  me  a  great  mystery.  As  we  fell  down 
the  river,  and  while  we  were  discoursing  upon  these  monsters,  wc 


0()>t 


IIIHTORICAf.  atlJ.KCTIONH  OF  LOUISIANA. 


Iicanl  a  groat  runhinf^  and  hiilililiti^  of  waters,  ami  sinnll  islands  of 
lloatin}^  trees  cnniiii}^  t'nuii  tin-  numtli  of  the  J'</:itini'»ii  {^i\\v  Missduri), 
with  siu'li  rapidity  that  we  eould  not  trnst  ourHelveH  to  jro  nuul 
it.  Thu  water  of  thirt  river  is  so  miidily  that  we  could  not  drink  it. 
It  so  diseolor.s  the  Mississipjii  as  to  make  the  navigation  of  it  dau- 
jrerous.  This  river  comes  from  the  north-west,  and  etniifies  into  the 
.Mississippi,  and  on  its  hanks  are  situated  a  ninuher  of  Indian  villages. 
We  judged  jpy  the  coiujiass,  that  the  Mississippi  discharged  itself 
int(»  the  (Sulf  of  Mexico.  It  would,  however,  have  been  more  agrec- 
alde  if  it  h.id  discharged  itself  into  the  South  Sea  or  (iulf  of  California. 

The  Indians  told  us  that  hy  ascending  the  I'cketanoni,  about  six  days' 
journey  from  its  mouth,  we  would  find  a  beautiful  prairie  twenty  or  thirty 
leagues  broad,  at  the  end  of  which,  to  the  north-west,  is  a  small  river, 
which  is  not  difficult  to  navigate.  This  river  runs  towards  the  South- 
west for  ten  or  tifti'cn  leag\ie.s,  after  which  it  enters  a  small  lake,  which 
h  the  source  of  another  deep  river,  running  to  the  West,  v/here  it 
empties  into  the  .sea.  I  do  ntjt  doubt  that  this  is  the  Vermilion  sea, 
and  hope  I  shall  have,  one  time  or  other,  the  opportunity  of  under- 
taking its  discovery,  and  instructing  the  poor  Indian  who  has  been  so 
long  groping  his  way  in  heathen  darkness,  liut  leaving  this  digres- 
sion, and  now  having  e.scaped  the  dangers  of  being  swamped  by  the 
current  and  floating  tindjer  of  this  rapid  river,  I  return  to  the  subject 
of  our  voyage.  After  having  gone  about  twenty  leagues  to  the  South, 
and  a  little  less  to  the  South-east,  we  met  another  river  called  Oua- 
huus/,'ii/on  (the  Ohio),  which  runs  into  the  Mississippi  in  the  latitude  of 
30°  N.  IJut  before  we  arrived  there,  we  passed  through  a  most  for- 
midable pas.sagc  to  the  Indians,  who  believe  that  a  manitoa  or  demon 
resides  there,  to  devour  travelers,  and  which  the  Indians  told  us  of  to 
make  us  abandon  our  voyage. 

This  demon  is  only  a  bluff  of  rocks,  twenty  feet  high,  against  which 
the  river  runs  with  areat  violence,  and  being  thrown  back  bv  the  rocks 
and  island  near  it,  the  water  makes  a  great  noise  and  flows  with  great 
rapidity  through  a  narrow  channel,  which  is  certainly  dangerous  to 
canoes.  The  Ouabouskigou  (the  Ohio)  comes  from  the  East.  The 
Chounnom  (the  Shawancse)  live  on  its  banks,  and  are  so  numerous 
that  I  have  been  informed  there  are  thirty-eight  villages  of  that  nation 
situated  on  this  river :  they  are  a  very  harndess  people.  The  Iroquois 
are  constantly  making  war  upon  them,  without  any  provocation,  be- 
cause they  have  no  flrearms,  and  carrying  them  into  captivity.  At  a 
little  distance  above  the  mouth  of  this  river,  our  men  discovered  some 


MARQIETTK  AM)  .IOI.IKT'h  Arroi'NT. 


*2\y.\ 


banks  of  iron  ore,  of  wliicli  tiny  linuijrlit  scvcrni  s|M>('itncnH  "mto  nur 
riiiiDc.  TluTt'  is  ;ilsi>  luTf  ii  kiml  of  fiit  r.irlli,  of  tlirct'  ililVir.iit  fcilmv*. 
jMU'iiIi',  n-il,  iiml  yillow,  wliicli  t\inis  tlu'watiT  of  flu'  river  into  iuli'ip- 
)»looil  tolor.  We  ;ils()  (liscovvrt'il  u  red  sjuul  wliich  is  very  lu'ii\  v. 
I  put  somo  of  it  upon  my  our,  wliiili  dyocl  it  nd.  Wi-  luui  sci-ii 
no  fcnls,  or  cani'S,  but  tin  y  iin\v  liciran  to  niiiki'  tlnir  aii|"'!iraniT. 
iiml  ^Tcw  so  thick  that  catlli.'  coiild  not  make  tluir  way  thrniii.'ii  tlicni. 
They  aro  of  an  a^'ri'calilo  firt'tn  color,  and  ^Tow  very  hi^di.  Tlit'ir 
toj)s  aro  i'rowncil  with  lon^  and  .>liari)  loavi-s. 

[']>  to  till'  ))rcs('nt  time  \vu  had  not  seen  any  uiohj  ''^oes,  luit  tln-y 
now  hr^au  to  1)0  vi'ry  trouhlcsonic.  'I'hc  Indians  who  live  1,1  thisiiart 
of  tlio  country,  in  ordi  r  to  protect  flicinselves  from  the  mo>i<|iii*<K's, 
are  oliliuvd  to  huild  their  huts  diiVerentlv  from  oilier  Indians.  'I'lipy 
drive  into  tlie  ground  long  poles,  \ '  ry  near  one  another,  which  sup 
port  a  large  hurdle,  upon  whieh  they  lie,  instead  of  a  tloor,  and  under 
which  they  make  a  lire.  The  smoke  ))asses  through  it,  and  drives 
away  the  mosnuitoes.  Tlu'  roof  of  the  l"'t-,1|t'  is  covi-rcd  with  skins 
tmd  Itark,  whieh  protects  them  from  rain,  and  tfw*  insupportalile  heat 
(if  their  sunnnoi's.  For  the  same  reason  wo  were  ;i'-^o  ohliged  to 
make  an  awning  over  our  oannes  with  our  .sails.  As  we  wi  re  gliding 
along  with  the  force  of  the  current  wo  perceived  Indians  on  land  armed 
with  guns,  waiting  for  us  to  come  ashore.  Our  men  prejmred  tiuiii 
selves  to  light,  and  it  was  resolved  to  let  them  lire  lirst.  As  wo  came 
near,  I  spoke  to  them  in  the  language  of  the  llurons,  and  showed 
them  my  calumet  of  peace ;  hut  they  would  not  answer  me,  which 
we  tovik  for  a  declaration  of  war. 

We  resolved,  however,  to  pa.ss  them,  and  as  wo  oamo  nearer,  they 
desired  us,  in  a  friendly  manner,  to  come  ashore.  We  therefore  dis- 
embarked, and  went  to  their  village.  They  entertained  us  with  buffa- 
lo and  bear's  meat,  and  white  plums,  which  were  excellent.  ^Ve  ob- 
«erved  they  had  guns,  knives,  axes,  shovels,  glass  beads,  and  bottles 
in  which  they  put  their  powder.  They  wear  their  hair  long  as  the 
IruquoU,  and  their  women  are  dressed  as  the  llnroiis.  They  told  us 
that  they  were  only  within  ten  day.s'  journey  of  the  sea ;  that  they 
bouglit  their  goods  from  the  J']uro])eans,  who  live  towards  the  cast, 
that  they  had  images  and  chajilets,  and  played  upon  musical  instru- 
ments. That  they  were  clothed  as  I  was,  and  wore  very  kind  to  them. 
However,  I  did  not  see  anything  about  them  that  could  persuade  me 
that  they  had  received  any  instructions  about  our  holy  religion.  1 
endeavoured  to  give  them  a  general  idea  of  it,  and  presented  them 


Si' 


294 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


i^ 


i'~. 


with  soDio  mcdiils  to  remind  them  f»f  it.  The  account  tlic  Indians 
i^avc  us  of  the  sea  was  very  encouraging,  and  therefore  we  ajjplied  our 
■  liirs  with  great  vigor,  in  hopes  of  seeing  it  very  soon.  The  banks  of 
the  river  began  to  be  covered  with  high  trees,  whicli  hindered  us  from 
observing  the  country  as  we  had  done  all  along.  The  ehn,  cotton,  and 
ryi)res3  trees  are  beautiful  on  account  of  their  size  and  heiglit.  We 
judged,  from  the  bellowing  of  the  buffaloes,  that  some  prairies  wore 
near.  ^\'o  saw  (piails,  and  shot  a  parrot  which  hail  half  of  his  head 
red,  th(!  neck  yellow,  and  the  rest  (jf  the  body  green.  We  soon  de- 
scended to  latitude  00°  north,  and  found  ourselves  at  a  village  on 
rhe  river  side  called  Mi/cJu'i/<imr(t* 

The  Indians  made  a  great  noise,  and  appeared  in  arms,  dividing 
themselves  into  three  parties,  one  of  which  stood  on  the  shore,  while 
rhe  others  went  into  their  canoes  to  intercept  our  retreat,  and  prevent 
our  escape.  They  were  armed  with  bows  and  arnnvs,  clubs,  axes,  and 
bucklers,  and  connuenced  attacking  us.  Notwithstanding  these  prc- 
|iarati(jns  we  invoked  our  patroness,  the  Holy  ^"irgiii,  and  rowed 
directly  for  the  shore.  As  wo  came  near,  two  young  men  threw 
diemselves  into  the  water  to  board  my  canoe,  which  they  would  have 
done  had  not  the  rapidity  of  the  current  prevented  them;  so  they 
returned  to  the  shore  and  threw  their  clubs  at  us,  wliich  passed 
over  our  heads.  It  was  in  vain  I  showed  them  the  cv^^(/Hi(7,  and  made 
-igns  to  them  that  we  had  not  come  to  fight;  they  continued  to  sur- 
'■ound  us,  and  were  about  to  pierce  us  on  all  sides  with  their  arrows, 
vvhen  God  suddenly  touched  their  hearts,  and  the  old  men  who  stood 
upon  the  bank  stopped  the  ardor  of  their  young  men,  and  made  signs 
of  peace,  and  came  down  to  the  shore,  and  throwing  their  bows  and 
irrows  into  our  canoes,  made  signs  for  us  to  cume  ashore,  which  wo 
did,  not,  however,  without  st)me  suspicions  on  our  part. 

I  spoke  to  them  in  six  diflerent  languages,  but  they  did  not  umler- 
-tand  any  one  of  them.  At  last  they  brought  to  us  an  olil  man  who 
<poke  the  Illinois^,  whom  we  told  that  we  wished  to  go  as  far  as  tlie 
sea,  and  then  made  them  some  presents.  They  understood  what  I 
meant,  but  I  am  not  sure  they  understood  what  I  said  to  them  of  ( iod, 
and  things  concerning  their  salvation.  It  w;is,  howev(;r,  seed  thrown 
on  ground  which  would  in  time  become  fruitful.  They  told  us  that  at 
rhe  next  great  village,  called  Arkanxca,  eight  or  ten  leo.gues  farther 
down  the  river,  we  could  learn  all  about  the  sea.     They  feasted  us 


*  All  Indiiin  viiliiL'i'  on  ihe  Missis.-iippi,  aiul  suiii)ii--oil  to  K;  the  site  of  tho 
nreseut  towti  of  Holoiui, 


MARQUETTE  AND  JOLIET  S  ACCOUNT. 


295 


with  sagamitc  and  fish,  aiul  we  passed  the  ni<xht  with  thciii,  not, 
howoviT,  without  some  uneasiness.  Wo  embarked  early  next  morning 
with  our  interpreters  and  ten  Indians,  wlio  went  before  us  in  a  canoe. 
Having  arrived  about  half  a  league  from  Afkaiixiii,  we  sav/  two 
canoes  coming  towards  us.  The  captain  of  one  was  standing  up 
holding  the  cahnntt  in  his  hand,  with  wliieh  he  made  signs,  according 
to  the  custom  of  the  country.  He  afterwards  joined  us,  inviting  us 
to  smoke,  and  singing  pleasantly.  Ho  then  gave  us  some  sagauiite  and 
Indian  bread  to  eat,  and  going  before  made  signs  for  us  to  follow  him, 
which  we  did,  but  at  some  distance.  They  had  in  the  meantime  \>w- 
pared  a  kind  of  scaffold  to  receive  us,  adorned  with  fine  nuits,  ujion 
which  wo  sat  down  with  the  old  niun  and  warriors.  We  fortunately 
found  among  them  a  young  man  who  spoke  IIIIhoIa  much  better  than 
the  interpreter  whom  we  brought  with  us  from  3Iitcliigamea.*  We 
made  them  sonie  small  presents,  whicli  tluy  receiveil  with  great  civility, 
and  seemed  to  admire  what  I  told  them  ab(jut  (Jod,  the  creation  of 
the  world,  and  the  mysteries  of  our  holy  faith,  telling  us,  by  the  in- 
terpreter, that  they  wished  us  to  remain  with  them  for  the  jiurpose  of 
instructing  them. 

Wo  then  asked  them  what  they  knew  of  the  sea,  and  they  .s.aid  we 
were  within  ten  days'  journey  of  it,  Ijut  we  might  perform  it  in  five. 
That  they  were  unac((uainted  with  the  nations  below,  because  their 
enemies  had  prevented  them  from  visiting  them.  That  the  hatchet, 
knives  and  beads  had  been  sold  to  them  by  the  nations  of  the  Ivist, 
and  were  in  part  brought  by  the  Illinois,  who  live  four  days'  jour- 
ney to  the  AVest.  That  the  Indians  whom  we  had  met  with  guns 
were  their  enemies,  who  hindered  them  from  trading  with  the  I'hn'o- 
peang,  and  if  wo  persisted  in  going  any  farther,  W(;  wmdd  expose 
ourselves  to  (jther  nations  who  were  their  enemies  During  this  con- 
versation they  continued  all  day  to  feast  us  with  sayamilc,  dog  nunit, 
and  roasted  corn  out  of  largo  wtioden  dishes.  Thc.-o  Indians  are  very 
courteous,  and  u'ivo  freely  of  what  they  have,  but  their  provisi<iiis  are 
but  indiff(;reiit,  because  they  are  afraid  to  go  a  hunting  on  account  of 
their  enemies.  They  njako  three  crops  of  Indian  corn  a-3'ear.  'J'hey 
roast  and  boil  it  in  largo  earthen  pots  vmy  curiously  made.  They 
have  also  laj-go  baked  earthen  plates,  which  they  use  for  dilFcrcnt  pur- 
poses. The  men  go  naked  and  wear  their  hair  short.  They  pierce 
their  noses  and  ears,  and  wear  rings  of  glass  beads  in  them. 


•  This  naiHc  is  still  applied   to  .1  lake  ;.•.  litM"  to  tlie   iiortli  of  'lie  river  St. 
Francis. 


•m 


t!' 


296 


HISTORICAIi  COLLECTIONS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


The  women  cover  tliemsclvcs  with  skins,  and  divide  their  hair  into 
two  trcssos,  which  tlicy  wear  behind  their  back  without  any  ornament. 
Their  feasts  arc  without  any  ceremony,  they  serve  their  meats  in  large 
dislios,  and  every  one  eats  as  much  as  ho  pleases.  Their  language  is 
extrcimly  diifiddt,  and  although  I  tried,  I  never  could  pronounce  a 
word  of  it.  Their  cabins  are  made  with  the  bark  of  trees,  and  are 
generally  very  wide  and  long.  They  lie  at  both  ends  on  mats  raised 
on  a  jjlatforni  two  feet  higher  than  the  floor.  Tiiey  keep  their  corn 
in  panniers  made  of  rushes.  They  have  no  beavers,  and  all  their  com- 
modities are  buffalo  hides.  It  never  snows  in  this  country,  and  they 
have  no  other  winter  than  continued  heavy  rains,  which  makes  the 
difference  between  their  summer  and  winter.  They  have  no  other 
fruit  but  watermelons,  though  their  soil  might  produce  any  other,  if 
they  knew  how  to  cultivate  it.  In  the  evening  the  chiefs  held  a  secret 
council,  wherein  some  proposed  to  kill  us ;  but  the  great  chief  opposed 
this  base  design,  and  sent  for  us  to  dance  the  calumet,  which  he  pre- 
sented us  with  to  seal  our  common  friendship.  M.  Joliet  and  I  held 
a  council,  to  deliberate  upon  what  we  should  do — whether  to  proceed 
further,  or  return  to  Canada,  content  with  the  discoveries  we  had 
made. 

Ilavinjr  satisfied  ourselves  that  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  was  in  latitude 
31°  40',  and  that  we  could  reach  it  in  three  or  four  days'  journey  from 
the  Akansea  (Arkansas  River),  and  that  the  Mississippi  discharged 
itself  into  it,  and  not  to  the  eastward  of  the  Cape  of  Florida,  nor 
into  the  California  Sea,  we  resolved  to  return  home.  We  considered 
that  the  advantage  of  our  travels  would  be  altogether  lost  to  our 
nation  if  we  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Spaniards,  from  whom  we  could 
expect  no  other  treatment  than  death  or  slavery;  besides,  we  saw  that 
we  were  not  prepared  to  resist  the  Indians,  the  allies  of  the  Europeans, 
who  continually  infested  the  lower  part  of  this  river;  we  therefore 
came  to  the  conclusion  to  return,  and  make  a  report  to  those  who  had 
sent  us.  So  that  having  rested  another  day,  we  left  the  village  of 
the  Akansea,  on  the  seventeenth  of  July,  1073,  having  followed  the 
Mississippi  from  the  latitude  of  42'^  to  34°,  and  preached  the  Gospel 
to  the  utmost  of  my  power,  to  the  nations  we  visited.  Wo  then 
ascended  the  Mississippi  with  great  difficulty  agsiinst  the  current,  and 
left  it  in  the  latitude  of  38°  north,  to  enter  another  river  (Illinois), 
which  took  us  to  the  lake  of  the  Illinois  (Michigan),  which  is  a  much 
shorter  way  than  through  the  lliver  Mescousin  (Wisconsin),  by  which 
we  entered  the  Mississippi. 


MARQUETTE  AND  JOLIET's  ACCOUNT. 


297 


I  never  saw  a  more  beautiful  country  than  we  found  on  this 
river.  The  prairies  are  covered  with  buifaloes,  stags,  goats,  and  the 
rivers  and  lakes  with  swans,  ducks,  gcoso,  parrots,  and  beavers. 
The  river  upon  which  we  sailed  was  wide,  deep  and  placid  for  sixty- 
five  leagues,  and  navigable  most  all  the  year  round.  There  is  a 
portage  of  only  half  a  league  into  the  lake  of  the  Illinois  (Michigan). 
We  found  on  the  banks  of  this  river,  a  village  called  Kuilka,  consist- 
ing of  seventy-four  cabins.  They  received  us  very  kindly,  and  wc 
promised  to  return  to  instruct  them.  The  chief,  with  must  of  the 
youth  of  this  village,  accompanied  us  to  the  lake,  from  whence  we 
returned  to  the  Bay  of  Puans  (Green  Bay),  about  the  end  of  Septem- 
ber.* If  my  perilous  journey  had  been  attended  with  no  other  advan- 
tage than  the  salvation  of  one  soul,  I  would  think  my  perils  sufficiently 
rewarded.  I  jireached  the  Go.spcl  to  the  Illinois  of  Perouacca  for  three 
days  together.  My  instructions  made  such  an  impression  upon  this 
poor  people,  that  as  soon  as  we  were  about  to  depart  they  brought  to 
me  a  dying  child  to  baptize,  which  I  did,  about  half  an  hour  before 
he  died,  and  which,  by  a  special  providence,  God  was  pleased  to  save. 

*  Tlie  following'  table  of  distances  offer  the  best  means  of  forming  some  idee; 
of  the  whole  di.stance  passed  over  by  JNlarquette  and  Jolietin  this  tour. 


From  Green  Bay  (Puans)  up  Fox  Rivi-r  to  the  portage, 

From  the  portage  down  the  Wisconsin  to  the  Mississippi, 

From  the  mouth  of  the  Wisconsin  to  the  moutli  of  the  Arkansas, 

From  the  Arkansas  to  the  Illinois  River, 

From  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois  to  Chicago, 

From  Chicago  to  Green  Buy  by  the  lake  shore,     .... 


MILES. 

175 

175 

I0S7 

047 

30  r; 
2Gm 

2G4'> 


298 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


TABLE  NO.  1. 


OF  r.EOORAPHTCAL  POSITIONS  OF  TUK  MISSISSIPPI*  AND  MISSOURI, 
AS  ASCERTAINKD  BY  LONG,  NICOLLKT  AND  OTHERS. 


Mississippi  liiva 

at  low  water. 

S'^6 

^i^,"- 

West  of  firocn- 

Places  of  observation. 

B  -«'-.5 

Nortli  liiti- 

WlCl 

. 

C    =    i) 

;:  -r  3  X 

tude. 

l.o 

igitiides  in 

!*-''< 

arc 

Mites. 

Fed. 

o 

/ 

// 

... 

o 

1 

1' 

New     Orleans    Cathedral,    anil 

level  of  its  front  pavement     - 

104 

10.5 

29 

57 

23 

89 

59 

4 

Red  River,  nortli  end  of  the  is- 

land, opposite  the  mouth 

340 

76 

31 

f> 

25 

91 

41 

15 

Natchez,  liyht-iiouse 

406 

86 

31 

33 

37 

91 

28 

22.5 

Yazoo  River,  the  mouth    - 

.'334 

- 

32 

28 

0 

90 

59 

30 

White      River,     Montgomery's 

Landing,  one  mile  above  the 

mouth    -        -        -        -        - 

7r)4 

202 

33 

57 

20 

90 

2T 

45 

New  Madrid,  Missouri 

1,115 

- 

36 

34 

30 

89 

97 

15 

Ohio    River,  north    side  of  tlic 

mouth 

1,216 

324 

37 

0 

25 

89 

2 

30 

Cape  Girardeau          ... 

1,257 

- 

37 

18 

39 

89 

17 

0 

St.  Genevieve,  Catholic  church. 

and  level  of  its  pavement 

1,330 

372 

37 

59 

47 

90 

11 

10 

St.  Louis,  cardcn  of  the  cathe- 

dral 

1,390 

382 

38 

37 

28 

90 

15 

39 

Illinois  River,  the  mouth  - 

1,426 

- 

38 

5S 

12 

- 

Moingonan   River  (Dea  Moines 

River),  a  small   island  at  the 

mouth    .        -        .        .         - 

1,594 

444 

40 

21 

43 

91 

32 

30 

Montrose,    or     old    Fort     Des 

Moines,    tiie    mouth    of   the 

creek     .        .        -        -        - 

1,609 

470 

40 

30 

34 

91 

31 

U 

Flint  River,  the   mouth    above 

Burlington     -         -        -         . 

1,639 

486 

40 

52 

56 

_ 

Maskudeng,  the  middle  mouth 

of  the  slough 

1,678 

550 

41 

14 

47 

91 

21 

30 

Rock  Island,  a  quarter  of  a  mile 

above  Davenport's  residence - 

1,722 

528 

41 

31 

50 

- 

Head  of  the  Upper  Rapids,  below 

Port  Byron  and  I'arkhurst 

1,737 

554 

41 

36 

S 

90 

29 

0    . 

Prairie   du  Cliien  (Kipi-saging), 

American    Fur   Company's 

house          .... 

1,932 

642 

43 

3 

6 

91 

9 

19.5 

Summit  of  bluff  on  the  eastern 

side  of  Prairie  du  Chien 

- 

1,010 

- 

- 

Upper  Iowa  River,  island  at  the 

mouth 

1,978 

- 

43 

29 

26 

91 

10 

0 

Sappah  River,  or  Black   River, 

opposite  to  the  old  mouth  - 

2,035 

683 

43 

57 

14 

91 

24 

0 

*  The  Mississippi  rises  from  lakes  in  a  champaign  country.  The  Missouri 
River  rises  in  a  mountainous  country,  flows  with  a  rapid  current,  and  is  very 
turbid  and  muddy.  Since  it  has  been  known  to  the  whites,  it  has  risen  throe 
or  four  times  forty  feet  above  the  usual  high  water  mark. 

t  The  numbers  in  this  column  refer  to  the  surface  of  the  water  in  the  Mis- 
ciuippi  at  the  point  mentioned,  except  when  otherwise  especially  expressed. 


DISTANCES,  ELEVATION  AND  LATITUDE. 


299 


IMiiccs  of  ob.servniion. 


Top    of   monntnin    on    right 
bank,     opposite     tiie     old 
month         -        .        .         . 
Dividititr   ridge   bctwcnn  Sap- 
pah  River  and  Prairie  h  la 
Crosac  Jlivor,  hIx  miles  east 
of  Mississippi     ... 
Mountain   island,  or  Montague 
qui   trernpe    ?i   I'Kau    of   the 
French  -         -        -        .         . 
Miniskali  llivcr,  or  White-water 
lliver  -        .        .         . 

Rcrninicha       (Montagne       la 
(Iranj^'o  of  tlic  l''rnncli)  upper 
end  of  Lake  I'opin 
Top  of  Reminiclia 
Laluintan    River,   the    mouth — 
(Cannon  River  of  the   Ameri- 
cans,   Canoe    River    of    the 
French) 
St.  Croix  River,  the  mouth 
St.  Peters,  the  mouth 

Gener.-d  Level  of  the  plateau 
on  which  Fort  Snelling  and 
the  Indian  agency  stand 
Pilot  Knob,  the  top 
Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  U.  S.  cot- 
tage        

Ishkode-wabo   River,    or    Rum 

River,  the  mouth  -         -        - 

Karishon  River  (Sioi      ,  or  Undeg 

River     (Chippev    vs),     Crow 

River  of  the  Ai       :cans 

Wabezi,  or  Swan       :ver,  a  half 

mile  abcve  the  M...uth     - 
Kagi-wigwan  River,  the  mouth 
(Aile  (le  Corbeau  River  of  the 
French — Crowing  River  of  the 
Americans)    -         -         .         . 
Kabikons,   or   Little   Falls,  the 
head  of  the  falls     -         -         . 
Wanomon  River,  or  Vermilion 
River,  the  month   -         -        - 
Eagle   Nest    Savannah    (Marais 
aux    Nids     d'Aigle      of     the 
French)  -        .         -         . 

Leech  Lake  River,  the  mouth    - 
Lake  Cass,  the  old  trading-house 
on  a  tongue  of  land  near  the 
entrance  of  the  Mississippi     - 
Pemidji  Lake   or  Lake  Travers, 
ttie  entrance  of  the  Mississippi 
Ttasca  Lake,  Schoolcraft's  island 
Utmost   sources   of  the   Missis- 
sippi, at   the   summit  of  the 
Hauteurs  de   Terre,  or  Divid- 
ing-ridge, between  the  Missis- 
sippi and  Red  River  of  the 
north    -         .        .        .        . 


2,042 
2,0G9 

2,115 


2,11S 
2,150 
2,192 


2,200 
2,219 

2,22!) 
2,341 

2,381 
2,627 
2,648 


2,664 
2,675 


2,755 

2,800 
2,890 


2,896 


Miles. 


Feet. 
1,214 

1,103 


714 
1,036 


729 
744 


850 
1,006 

856 


1,098 


1,130 


1,402 


North  lati- 
•  udt. 


Wi'sl  of  (icrcM- 
wich. 


I.iinniluilcs  in 
(ire. 


')    /    // 


44   1   7 
44  12  36 


44  33  30 


91  30  30 
91  51  15 


02  31 


44  34  0  i  02  32  0 
44  45  30  92  45  0 
44  52  46   93   4  54 


44  58  40  i  93  10  30 

45  15  0 

45  16  0  I 

45  54  30  i  94  22   0 


46  15  50  1  94  22  45 


1,340  I  47  14  50  i   93  26  45 
47  11   4  I 


47  IS  10  I  93  32  30 
1,356   47  14   0  I  93  39   0 
'  '  93  43   0 


47  25  23  I  94  34 


1,45(5     I  47     28     46 
1,575     i  47     13     35 


1,680 


0 


94  50     30 

95  2      0 


■  i^Jb-yil  "Nri  n-  « 


300 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS  OP  LOUISIANA. 

TABLE  NO.  -2. 

Missouri  River  at  low  water. 


2'r  '■■ 

West  (Pl'Oret'n- 

Pliici's  111'  (ilisorvttlidii. 

North  1 
tudf 

•iii- 

WII'll. 

Liiiiu'il lilies  in 

^^^-. 

H^^- 

"lire. 

Miles. 

Feet. 

0 

/ 

// 

0 

/        n 

Moiitli    of   Missouri    River,   tlie 

Boutli    hank,    ciglitcen    miles 

above  St.  Lmiis       -         .         . 

1,40S 

388 

38 

50 

50 

90 

13    45 

Goebel's    rcsKleiice,  near  New- 

port,   rriinUlin   county,    Mis- 

souri      .         .         -        .         . 

- 

3S 

33 

58 

91 

7      9 

(laseon.ide  River,  the  mouth 

1,513 

- 

38 

41 

40 

— 

Porthiiid,  Calhiway  county,  Mis- 

souri, lel't   bank    of  Missouri 

River      -        -         -        .         . 

I, .52  3 

- 

38 

42 

57 

91 

40     15 

Osai^e  River,  the  mouth 

1,543 

*~ 

38 

35 

0 

- 

Nashville,    liooue    county,    left 

bank       -        -         -       "- 

1,579 

- 

3C 

47 

7 

92 

49     30 

Boonville,  Cooper  county,  right 

bank       -        -        -        -        - 

1,G04 

530 

38 

57 

18 

92 

41     30 

Grand   River,   soutliwest  of  the 

_ 

mouth     -         -        -        .        . 

1,670 

- 

39 

19 

0 

_ 

Old  Fort  Osage,  right  bank 

1,748 

- 

39 

9 

33 

- 

Lower  Liberty  landing 

1,770 

- 

39 

11 

43 

94 

20     15 

Kansas  River,  the  mouth    - 

1,790 

- 

39 

5 

25 

- 

Fort  Leavenworth,  the  landing 

place 

1,820 

746 

39 

22 

40 

94 

44      0 

Cow  Island         .        .        -         - 

1,S29 

- 

39 

25 

5 

- 

Sand-bar,  eighteen  miles  above 

Fort  Leavenworth — above  the 

Old  Cut-olT     -        -        .         . 

1,S3S 

- 

39 

29 

42 

95 

1       0 

Black  Snake  hill,  the  landing      - 

l,S7lj 

797 

39 

44 

23 

94 

47     30 

Antelope  Island          .        .         - 

1,924 

- 

40 

4 

23 

95 

19    30 

Nishnabatona     River,    opposite 

the  mouth       .         .        -         - 

1,948 

- 

40 

16 

50 

95 

25      0 

Bald    Island,    lower    end,    and 

western  side            .        -         - 

1,977 

- 

40 

34 

0 

95 

34    30 

Five-Barrel  Islands    -        -        - 

2,00S 

972 

40 

49 

44 

95 

42      0 

Hill  on  the  right  bank  at  Five- 

Barrel  Islands      -        .        . 

_ 

1,152 

— 

- 

Platte  River,  north  side  of  the 

mouth    -        .        -        .        - 

2,026 

- 

41 

3 

24 

- 

Kngineer  Cantonment 

- 

- 

41 

25 

4 

95 

43    52.5 

Island  three  miles  below  Council 

Bluffs  by  water       .        -         . 

2,081 

1,023 

41 

28 

20 

95 

45    30 

Inyan-yanke  River  (Little  Sioux 

River),  three  miles  below  the 

mouth     -        -         -        -        . 

2.1.59 

_ 

41 

47 

0 

95 

54      0 

Wood's  Hills,  ok'   'r;ii!ing-house 

2,197 

- 

42 

0 

49 

96 

7      0 

Floyd's  Grave,  tup  of  the  river 

bank      -        -        .        .        - 

2,263 

1,253 

- 

- 

Huppan-kutey  Prairie,  left  bank. 

one    mile   above   American 

Fur      Company's      trading- 

house          .        .        .         - 

2,328 

1,217 

42 

44 

25 

96 

41     51 

Hills  on  the  right  bank,  two 

miles  below  the  preceding 

station        .        .        .        . 

- 

1,540 

- 

- 

DISTANCKS,  ELKVATION  AND  LATITUDE. 


801 


45 
9 

15 


V  .^  ^ 

«  a . 

Wrp 

of  Green - 

I'luceH  of  observation. 

i-5  -  0 

North  lati- 
tude. 

wicli. 

l-on 

pfiliidcH  ill 

u.    -• 

5,-5  -  ?( 

urr. 

Miles. 

Feet. 

0 

/       // 

U 

'        // 

Ponkali  River,  one  mile  below 

the  mniitli,  lell;  bank   of  Mis- 

souri Kivor     -        .         -        . 

2,426 

_ 

42 

50      0 

_ 

Nawizi  River,  near  the  mouth    - 

2,431 

„ 

42 

51     40 

- 

VVicha-pahah,  or  Scalp  Mountain 

Creek,  two  miles    above    the 

mouth    -         -        -         .        . 

2,476 

_ 

43 

8     33 

98 

37      0 

Rantesha-wita,  or  Red  Cedar  Is- 

land, lower  end,  opposite  Bad 

Creek 

2,490 

1,296 

43 

14    24 

98 

47    45 

Hills   on  the  right  bank  of  Red 

Cedar  Island — 

First  range    - 

- 

1,522 

- 

- 

Second  range 

- 

1,S76 

- 

- 

Third  range  - 

- 

2,033 

- 

- 

Sailor  Island,  one  mile  below     - 

2,526 

1,314 

43 

38       4 

99 

S      0 

Hills  on  the  left  bank,  between 

Sailor     Island    and     White 

River,  viz  : 

Top  of  the  Black  Zone  (pseudo 

volcano)      -        -         -        - 

__ 

1,532 

- 

- 

Top  of  the  upland,  or  Biyou's 

Hills 

1,738 

- 

Mankizita,  or  White  River,  the 

mouth 

2,537 

- 

43 

41       0 

99 

!3       0 

Lower  Island,  or  beginning   of 

the  Great  Bend       -         .        - 

2,582 

- 

44 

9      0 

99 

20       0 

Dry  Wood  River,  one  mile  below 

the  entrance  -        -         -        - 

2,616 

- 

44 

7     31 

99 

31     30 

Fort   Pierre    Chouteau,   on    the 

right  bank  -         .         -         - 

2,664 

1,456 

44 

23    28 

100 

12     30 

Highest  point,  north-east,  two 

miles  ironi   Fort  Pierre,  on 

the  opposite  bank 

- 

1,960 

- 

- 

